Management of femoral shaft fractures

Femoral shaft fractures are severe injuries and are often associated with a high impact trauma mechanism, frequently seen in multiple injured patients. In contrast an indirect trauma mechanism can lead to a complex femoral shaft fracture especially in elderly patients with minor bone stock quality. Hence management of femoral shaft fractures is often directed by co-morbidities, additional injuries and the medical condition of the patient. Timing of fracture stabilization is depended on the overall medical condition of the patient, but definite fracture fixation can often be implemented in the early total care concept in management of multiple injured patients. The treatment of choice is intramedullary fracture fixation. Further development of existing intramedullary nailing systems now offer comfortable handling and different locking options. Ipsilateral fractures of the neck and shaft are therefore facilitated in management. Then again increasing numbers of obese patient are representing a new patient group with challenging co-factors in fracture management. Sufficient preoperative planning is helpful to choose the most adequate fixation device. Correct reduction of the fracture and perioperative control of the axis and rotation is mandatory to avoid postoperative malrotation, which still represents the most frequent complication.