The locked intramedullary Grosse Kempf nail in the treatment of proximal diaphyseal fractures of the femur.

The authors studied the effectiveness of locked intramedullary nailing (Grosse-Kempf) in the treatment of proximal shaft femoral fractures. They reviewed 24 cases with an average two-year follow-up and which had obtained positive clinical radiographic results in 80% of cases as compared to 88% in a previous revision of femoral shaft fractures. The difference is due to the greater difficulty encountered in intraoperative reduction of fractures from which defects in axial (varus) and rotatory (extra) alignment arise. They discuss indications as regards locking type, weight-bearing, as well as surgical techniques, which may prevent some of the most frequent problems observed.