Undetected iatrogenic lesions of the anterior femoral shaft during intramedullary nailing: a cadaveric study

Stamatios A Papadakis^* , Charalampos Zalavras^* , Raffy Mirzayan^* and Lane Shepherd^*

Department of Orthopaedics, Keck School Of Medicine, LAC+USC Medical Center, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, GNH 3900, 9312 Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2008, 3:30doi:10.1186/1749-799X-3-30


Published:	17 July 2008

Abstract

Background

The incidence of undetected radiographically iatrogenic longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex during intramedullary nailing of the femur has not been well documented.

Methods

Cadaveric study using nine pairs of fresh-frozen femora from adult cadavers. The nine pairs of femora underwent a standardized antegrade intramedullary nailing and the detection of iatrogenic lesions, if any, was performed macroscopically and by radiographic control.

Results

Longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex was revealed in 5 of 18 cadaver femora macroscopically. Anterior splitting was not detectable in radiographic control.

Conclusion

Longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex during intramedullary nailing of the femur cannot be detected radiographically.