[Corrective osteotomy of the femoral and tibial shafts using the interlocking nail]

The indication for nailing a femur or tibia fracture has been extended by the method of interlocking up to the meta/diaphyseal zone. For the stabilisation of osteotomies in these regions, the nail was used in 19 cases of femur and 23 of tibia corrections between 1983 and 1988 in the Orthopedic University Clinic Berlin. The osteotomies were done with a small skin incision in open way. Although there were three infections, bone consolidation was succeeded in all but one patient with the planned axis. The first achieved gain in length could not be hold in five cases after removing the interlocking screws in order to give full weight bearing to the leg for callus formation. In situations of non-unions with wrong position or refracture of biologically troubled bones after plating the method of interlocking nail is stable and enables bone recovery after grafting by drilling. The possibility of early full weight bearing is a great advantage for the rehabilitation of patients, who had been suffering from delayed fracture healing before. The nail itself preserves the right position of the bone in two dimensions, even if there are not exact fitting osteotomy fragments, and the interlocking screws secure the shorter part of diaphysis against malrotation.