Flexible intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric fractures of the femur. A multicenter analysis.

In a retrospective, multicenter analysis, 79 subtrochanteric fractures of the femur were treated with flexible intramedullary nails. Seventy fractures were traumatic in origin, three were pathologic, and six occurred in spinal cord patients. All of the fractures healed, and there were no fixation failures. Thirteen patients (16%) required adjunctive internal fixation, bone grafts, or postoperative traction. Shortening greater than 1 cm occurred in four patients (5%). Reoperation with one week of surgery was necessary in eight patients (10%). The single greatest complication was knee complaints, which occurred in 17 patients (21.5%). However, only six of these patients required revision prior to fracture union. In one patient a deep wound infection developed, which eventually healed without evidence of osteomyelitis. All patients who were ambulatory before their fracture were able to bear weight.