Retrospective Study Comparing Outcomes of Open Antegrade and Open Retrograde Femoral Nailing Using the SIGN Nail in Philippine General Hospital Patients

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the outcomes of open antegrade and retrograde intramedullary nailing of the femur using the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) nail in adult PGH patients. Methods: This is a retrospective review of adult patients with closed femoral shaft fractures who were treated using an interlocked intramedullary nail (SIGN nail). Fourty-two patients were treated by open antegrade nailing and 16 patients were treated by open retrograde nailing. The two groups were compared using the following outcomes: duration of surgery, amount of blood loss, length of hospital stay, infection rate, weight bearing time, union rate, malunion, knee and hip pain, neurovascular deficits, peri-implant fracture incidence and length of post-op hospital stay. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the duration of surgery between the antegrade nailing group compared to the retrograde nailing group. All the other outcome parameters were not statistically different between the two groups. Conclusion: Outcomes of femoral shaft fractures in adults treated by open antegrade nailing and open retrograde nailing using the SIGN nail are similar except for a slightly longer operative time for the retrograde nail group. Key words: open intramedullary nailing femur; retrograde nailing femur; SIGN nail