[The interlocking nail for long comminuted and compound fractures of the femur and tibia. Technique and results]

Interlocking nailing is presented as an optimal method for the treatment of fractures of femur and tibia, which are complicated because of the length of these bones. Cases from the literature and cases treated by the authors gave a total of 208 fractures of the femur and 158 fractures of the tibia (comminuted fractures and fractures "à deux étages"). There is a low complication rate as a closed procedure was applied whenever possible. In the femur the nail fractured in eight cases (3.9%), while in seven cases infection was observed (3.5%) and in three cases pseudarthrosis. Following interlocking nailing of the tibia we found deviation of the axis by greater than 5 degrees in eight cases (5%) of 158, including 44 open fractures. Fracture of the nail occurred in one case (0.6%), and we observed six cases of infection (3.8%) and one of pseudarthrosis (0.6%).