Treatment of fractures of the femur with the Grosse-Kempf rod.

Intramedullary rod placement provides excellent fixation for many fractures of the femur. It also carries a high union rate, a low infection rate, and a shortened hospital stay for the patient. Certain fractures of the femur are not suitable for fixation with a standard intramedullary and alone. Use of the Grosse-Kempf rod, with interlocking screws, allows for stable fixation for long oblique fractures, spiral fractures, comminuted fractures, segmental fractures, fractures with a butterfly fragment, and fractures located in the proximal or distal shaft of the femur. The Louisiana State University (LSU) Orthopedic experience in the use of the Grosse-Kempf rod is presented in this article. We have treated a total of 60 fractures of the femur in 58 patients with this fixation system. This series consists of 58 acute fractures, one established nonunion, and one established infected nonunion. All patients in the group of acute fractures and who have had adequate follow up and time have healed. This group consists of 29 healed fractures and four fractures which are healing, but have recently had the static screw removed. Eight patients were lost to follow up, two died of causes unrelated to the treatment, and 17 have been placed recently and have not had time to heal. There was one instance of wound infection in the acute fracture group, associated with the distal screws, but this has not required rod removal. The Grosse-Kempf rod provides the treating physician with another option in the treatment of fractures of the femur not suitable for use by the standard intramedullary rod. The procedure is difficult, but we have found it to be reliable in treatment of difficult fractures.