Temperatures measured during reaming of the femoral neck and head. A preliminary report.

Thermal injury is a well-known complication during mechanical manipulation of cortical bone. In order to investigate the magnitude of the problem in relation to cancellous bone, the temperature elevation in the head of the femur during reaming for a sliding screw osteosynthesis was measured in ten patients. Temperatures in excess of 50 degrees for a duration of more than one minute were found within approximately 2 mm from the periphery of the reamer. This finding implies that the thread of the screw will be placed in an osteonecrotic zone.