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Published on: June 6, 2025
Outcomes and Cost Comparison Between Generic and Conventional Cephalomedullary Nails in the Treatment of
Kendrick M Khoo1, Gene W Kim, Eric M Lindvall
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UCSF Fresno, Fresno, CA.
Introduction:
Although generic orthopaedic implants have been available for several years, there has been slow adoption of this cost-saving option. We hypothesize equivalent outcomes between generic and conventional cephalomedullary nails (CMN) in the treatment of peritrochanteric femur fractures.
Methods:
We evaluated 419 patients undergoing CMN for peritrochanteric femur fracture with a minimum 6-month follow-up. Demographic data, radiographic assessment, and clinical outcomes were compared.
Results:
Ninety patients were treated with generic implants and 329 patients with conventional implants. The overall complication rate was 7.0%, with a revision surgery rate of 5.4%. No significant differences were seen in demographic variables or surgical factors. Although there was an increased incidence of postoperative infections with conventional nails (P = 0.045), no significant differences were seen in other complications.
Conclusion:
At our institution, generic nails cost approximately 38% less than their conventional counterparts. There seems to be no increased rate of implant-associated complications with the use of generic CMNs, although allowing for notable cost savings.
