Surgery in Femoral Shaft Fractures in Adults: A Comparative Study between Plating and Open Interlocking Nailing

Femoral fracture is one of the most common long bone fractures in the body that can lead to long term complications and significant disability unless properly treated. The aim of this study was to compare the results of plating with open interlocking nail in closed femoral shaft fractures. In a clinical trial study 63 cases of type A and B femoral shaft fractures treated with plating and 61 with open interlocking nail fixation were evaluated in two training hospital in Ahvaz-Iran in a one-year follow-up. The mean age of patients was 31.1 years (15-60 years). The mean union time in the "nailed group" was 19.8 weeks and in the "plated group" 21.6 weeks. The complications in the "nailed group" included 2 infection 5 nonunion and 2 device failures while the same complications were 10 15 and 9 respectively in the "plated group". 59 patients in the "nailed" and 45 in the "plated group" had obtained over 90 degrees of knee motion. The most common complication that was observed in the "nailed group" was limping in 35 patients (57.4%). Treatment of type A and B femoral shaft fractures in adults will result in less number of complications and better range of motion when treated with interlocking nailing.