PUBLISHED: Closed Cephalomedullary Nailing of a Diaphyseal Femur Fracture on a Fracture Table

Closed Cephalomedullary Nailing of a Diaphyseal Femur Fracture on a Fracture Table
Sarita Jamil1Michael J. Weaver, MD2
1University of Central Florida College of Medicine
2Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Femoral fractures typically occur in two major settings: high-energy mechanisms related to trauma and low-energy mechanisms in insufficiency fractures observed in elderly patients with osteopenia. Patients present with pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.

Intramedullary nailing is the definitive surgical treatment for femoral fractures to allow secondary healing of bone. Such a repair is performed here on a patient with a diaphyseal femoral fracture. Surgeon preference was to perform a closed cephalomedullary nailing with the patient supine on a radiolucent fracture table for traction.