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Interlocking screws placed with freehand technique and uni-planar image intensification: the "dip-stick" technique
Carlos A Finelli1, Bruce H Ziran2, Alexandre Penna Torini3
1Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery, "Dr Carmino Caricchio" Tatuapé Municipal Hospital and Federal University of São Paulo (DOT-UNIFESP), São Paulo - Brazil.
Injury
|December 22, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a new freehand interlocking technique for intramedullary nails, simplifying surgery and reducing radiation exposure for tibia and femur fractures.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Trauma surgery
- Surgical techniques
Background:
- Intramedullary nail interlocking is crucial for fracture fixation.
- Traditional methods can be complex and time-consuming.
- Minimizing radiation exposure is a key surgical goal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel freehand interlocking technique for intramedullary nails.
- To evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of this new method.
- To compare outcomes with existing literature.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 815 patients (603 tibia, 212 femur fractures) treated between 2008-2012.
- Utilized a freehand interlocking technique with anterior-posterior image intensification.
- Verified screw placement using an intramedullary guide wire.
Main Results:
- Mean surgery duration for tibial fractures: 55.6 minutes.
- Mean surgery duration for femur fractures: 78 minutes.
- Mean distal locking time: 3.8 minutes with 7.65 seconds of radiation exposure per block.
Conclusions:
- The described surgical technique is simple, easy to reproduce, and effective.
- This method demonstrated reduced surgical and radiation exposure times compared to literature.
- Further comparative studies are recommended to validate these findings.

