Surgical Technique for Femur Nail - ARZZT

Preoperative planning
Nail diameter and length can be established by means of the healthy extremity X-ray,
keeping in mind a 10 to 15% magnification. Some surgeons use an image intensifier
superimposing the nail to the affected extremity to establish its length and to obtain a sure
distance without affecting the knee and hip articulation. Another method is to measure
from the greater femoral trochanter tip to the knee joint line, subtracting 8 cm.
When operating very narrow bones the smallest diameter nail is suggested as chosen by
the surgeon; and depending fractures comminution and stability is recommended a bigger
diameter nail to obtain better fixing and stability.
Patient position
Patient must be in lateral decubitus or supine position, depending surgeon´s convenience
and if he uses a table for fracture reduction or not, the reduction can be perform by means
of direct vision or close using a radioscopic control. The extremity that will be operating must
be in a 90 degrees knee flexion and 90 degrees hip flexion.
Patient Position
Transversal
cross-section
Surgical
approach
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