ANALYSIS OF REOSTEOSYNTHESIS OF THE FRACT URED FEMUR FROM 1980 TO 1989

Between 1980 and 1989, 2 1 0 patients with 212 femoral shaft fractures were treated at our hospital, 191 patients with 193 fractures (91%) h ad a follow-up control. Of these 193 fractures only 16 required totall y 26 (13.5%) reosteosynthesis, with AO-Switzerland performing 625 (14. 5%) reosteosynthesis in the same period of time, with the methods of p rimary fracture care only varying inconsiderably. The different reason s for reinterventions were planned reosteosynthesis, malposition, dela yed union and pseudoarthrosis, loose and broken implants and infection . In comparison with AO-Switzerland the main difference was that we ha d no case with malposition (AO-Switz. 20%) leading to reosteosynthesis . The early infection rate at our hospital was 0.9% (AO-Switz. 2.6%) i n comparison to a late infection rate of 2.1% (AO 2.2%). The screw-pla te osteosynthesis and reamed femur-nail have both proved to be safe me thods for primary fracture care, whereas combined osteosynthesis (e.g. two plates/reamed femur-nail and a plate) has a high rate of reosteos ynthesis and therefore should be avoided.