• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.183-189
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• 2021

Arthrodesis is one of the last options available to obtain a stable, painless knee in patients who are unable to undergo reconstructive surgery due to a damaged knee joint. A variety of techniques have been used, including external fixation, internal fixation by compression plates, intramedullary fixation through the knee with a modular nail, and antegrade nailing through the piriformis fossa. Another option is the use of a short nail such as the Neff nail, the Wichita nail, or the Huckstep nail, but there are no commercial short nails available for use in Korea. This technical report describes a technique for knee arthrodesis using a retrograde femoral intramedullary nail.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.535-539
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• 2021

Vascular complications following a femoral fracture are rare but can result in serious issues. Several case studies have reported pseudoaneurysms occurring after direct trauma or the insertion of a proximal femoral nail in the case of a proximal femoral fracture. The authors encountered an 85-year-old patient treated with retrograde intramedullary nail fixation for a distal femur fracture and suffered a decrease in the hemoglobin level, swelling, and pain on the 9^th day after surgery. The authors initially attributed the temporary hematoma and pain to ordinary postoperative processes. On the 16^th day after surgery, a pseudoaneurysm originating from the descending branch of the lateral femoral convolutional artery was diagnosed and treated by percutaneous vascular embolization. After the procedure, the hemoglobin level increased, and the swelling and pain decreased.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.326-333
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• 2021

Purpose: A retrograde intramedullary nail is commonly used to treat femoral shaft and distal femur fractures. The authors analyzed the treatment results and the factors affecting the period of bone union for thirty-five patients treated with a retrograde intramedullary nail. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five patients who could be followed up for more than twelve months after the treatment with retrograde intramedullary nailing were analyzed retrospectively. The treatment results and the relationship between the period of bone union and the patient's age, sex, comminution of fracture, presence of open fracture, location of the fracture, and accompanying fractures were evaluated. Results: The average bone union time was 4.50 months. The period of bone union was unaffected by the age, sex, location, and presence of open fractures but was affected by the presence of comminution and accompanying fractures. Conclusion: Retrograde intramedullary nailing is effective for distal and shaft of fractures of the femur. The period of bone union is affected by the presence of comminution and accompanying fractures.