SMALL VERSUS LARGE-DIAMETER CLOSED-SECTION FEMORAL NAILS FOR THE TREATMENT OF FEMORAL-SHAFT FRACTURES - IS THERE A DIFFERENCE

A retrospective series of 99 femoral shaft fractures treated by small diameter (10 and 11 mm) and large diameter (>11 mm) closed section fem oral nails from November 1989 to September 1993 was analyzed, No signi ficant differences in the parameters of bony union and time to full we ight bearing were seen between the two groups nor were there significa nt differences between the rate of secondary procedures, There were no broken nails in either group and there was no difference in the overa ll respiratory complication rate. Conclusion: No statistically signifi cant differences existed between the small and large diameter groups e xcept for the mean age and mean follow-up period, Small diameter nails can be used safely without the risk of nail breakage.