Oxygen saturation during reaming and intramedullary nailing of the femur

Oxygen saturation was monitored during the reaming and intramedullary nailing of 15 femoral fractures (three impending) to assess the relationship between intramedullary reaming and nailing and the production of hypoxemia. There were no statistically significant drops in oxygen saturation during this procedure in either the fractured or intact (impending fractures) femora.