Nonunion Femur Case

Presenting

This x-ray of a 41 year old man 4 months after injury shows displacement of bone fragments around the rod that was initially used at an outside facility by other physicians to treat this femur fracture. He was having severe pain and great difficulty bearing weight, even with his crutches.

Result After Treatment by Dr. Brinker

This image shows that treatment with a long locking plate and screws has restored position of the fragments and resulted in solid healing of the fracture. The patient had no pain and was walking without crutches or a cane.

Presenting

This x-ray shows a 60 year old man with a distal femoral nonunion with deformity 6 months following treatment at an outside facility by other physicians using plate and screws. The two bold black lines represent the orientation of the upper and lower segments of the femur, which are supposed to be aligned. The divergence of these bold lines show that this patient had a 28 degree deformity of the distal femur in addition to the nonunion. The patient had severe pain and was having difficulty walking with crutches.

Treatment in Progress

These x-rays taken during Ilizarov treatment show deformity correction by realignment and compression of the nonunion site.

Result After Treatment by Dr. Brinker

The final radiograph shows restoration of alignment and orientation and healing of the nonunion. The patient had no pain and was walking without assistance.

Presenting

This 38 year old family physician was involved in a high-energy motor vehicle accident in June of 2008. He lost control of his car that crossed into oncoming traffic and was struck by an SUV going approximately 50 mph. The impact resulted in a femur fracture that was treated with intramedullary nail fixation at another facility.

Unfortunately his fracture failed to unite and he was referred in to see Dr. Brinker with a painful femoral nonunion five months after his initial surgery.

Result After Treatment by Dr. Brinker

This patient was treated with exchange nailing. His nonunion was completely healed 3 months following treatment, his pain is totally resolved, and he has returned to full activity.

Presenting

This 21 year old gentleman sustained a high energy open distal femur fracture as the result of an ATV accident. He presented 4 months following medullary nail stabilization performed at an outside facility.

The femur fracture was completely unstable and had a severe deformity (crooked).

Result After Treatment by Dr. Brinker

The patient was treated with exchange nailing with multiple distal poller screws to augment stability and facilitate realignment. Four months following treatment his femoral nonunion was solidly healed and his femur was anatomically aligned.