Femoral nailing without a fracture table

This retrospective trail was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of femoral nailing on a radiolucent table with manual traction only. Eighty-three femoral shaft fractures treated by antegrade nailing were included in this study. Group 1 consisted of 24 femur fractures that were reduced and nailed with manual traction. Group 2 consisted of 59 femur fractures treated with the aid of a fracture table. There were 10 patients in Group 1 and 19 patients in Group 2 needing multiple procedures. In Group 1, significantly fewer redrapings and table transfers were necessary. There was no increase in operative time. There were no operative complications in Group 1 and there was 1 operative complication in Group 2--a radial nerve palsy. Postoperative malalignment was minimal in both groups. Intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures on a radiolucent table using manual traction is associated with no increase in morbidity. It also facilitated quicker and more effective treatment of the patient with polytrauma. No undue risks or contraindications were identified; however, the help of an assistant was invaluable.