Treatment of comminuted femoral subtrochanteric fractures using the Russell-Taylor reconstruction intramedullary nail.

Seven patients with comminuted subtrochanteric fractures of the femur were treated with Russell-Taylor reconstruction intramedullary nails. Six of the seven fractures were AO/ASIF Type C and had resulted from high-energy trauma. The average time to clinical union was 10.5 weeks--a considerable improvement over what has been achieved with other methods. There were no delayed unions, nonunions, infections, or implant failures, either postoperatively or during follow up, which averaged 20.8 months (range: 16 to 28). The Russell-Taylor device offers mechanical and biologic advantages, and extends the indications for locked intramedullary nailing to include fractures at the level of or including the lesser trochanter.