1ST EXPERIENCE AND COMPLICATIONS WITH THE LONG GAMMA NAIL

Treatment of proximal femoral fractures is difficult. A retrospective analysis of 92 patients treated with a custom-made extended gamma nail with a mean follow up of 4 months is presented. The early results of this new method are promising. The indications for the use of the long gamma nail were intertrochanteric fractures with extension to the sub trochanteric region, imminent and pathologic fractures of the intertro chanteric and subtrochanteric region, mostly in elderly patients, prox imal femoral fractures, and combination injuries in multiple trauma pa tients and delayed unions. In 67 cases the patients were primarily tre ated with a long Gamma nail. In 25 cases the nail was used after the f ailure of initial treatment. Complications occurred in 32 patients; ho wever, 88 patients were able to walk at the end of the study. The adva ntage of this new method is that with a closed surgical technique full weight bearing directly after the operation is achieved. The long Gam ma nail provides a procedure by which most complex fractures in the pr oximal femur can be managed.