The Influence of Retrograde Femoral Nail Removal With and Without Interpositional Fat Grafting on Distal Femoral Physeal Behavior: A Sheep Study

Conclusions: Femurs undergoing retrograde implant placement were significantly shorter when compared with control limbs in sheep sacrificed at 3 months, whereas differences were nominal in sheep sacrificed at 5 months after retrograde implant removal, suggesting growth inhibition with nail removal improved with time. Fat grafting across the distal femoral physis did not result in a significant difference in femoral lengths. Histologic evidence at 5 months revealed early development of a bone bridge, emphasizing the importance of follow-up to skeletal maturity in patients treated with retrograde nailing across an open physis. Level of Evidence: Level IV.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Selected Topics Source Type: research