The reconstruction locked nail for complex fractures of the proximal femur

Thirty-seven patients with 37 proximal femoral fractures were treated with a reconstruction locked femoral nail. There were four ipsilateral intracapsular femoral neck and shaft fractures, two intertrochanteric fractures, 18 intertrochanteric fractures with diaphyseal extension, eight subtrochanteric fractures with involvement of the lesser trochanter, and five subtrochanteric fractures without involvement of the lesser trochanter. The overall union rate was 92%. Twenty-one complications developed in 13 patients (35%) which included three of the four femoral neck and shaft fractures, and six of 18 intertrochanteric fractures with diaphyseal extension. Of the five intertrochanteric fractures with diaphyseal extension in which anatomic reduction was not achieved, four developed a complication. Of the nine proximal screws in nine fractures, which were placed short (below the subchondral bone of the femoral head), six fractures developed a complication. The complications included three nonunions, one delayed union, two leg-length discrepancies of > 2.5 cm, two cases of varus deformity of > 10 degrees, two varus deformities < 10 degrees, four instances of revision surgery including one broken 13-mm nail, four proximal screws that backed out and required removal, two cases of pudendal nerve palsy, and one case of heterotopic ossification. Seven patients developed more than one complication. Eleven of the 13 patients with complications required a second surgery to treat the complication. We conclude that the reconstruction locked femoral nail is not a good choice for ipsilateral intracapsular neck and shaft fractures. Our recommendation is that anatomic reduction should be achieved for all cases using the reconstruction femoral nail, but it is absolutely required when treating the intertrochanteric fracture with diaphyseal extension. Reconstruction femoral nails have a high rate of complication due to the complex nature of the fractures as well as the device.