Abstract:
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate both the
cortical and the medullary anterior bowing of the femur,
and to compare these measurements with current intramedullary
nails to assess the adequacy of their design.
Methods: Lateral digital radiographic views of left femurs
of 104 normal subjects (18–68 years old) were
obtained. Radii of cortical and medullary curvatures of
femurs were calculated using these images. The values
obtained were compared to the radius of curvatures of
ten different intramedullary nails. Results: Medullary
bowing was between 114 and 1,389 mm (mean: 722 mm,
SD: 230 mm) and the cortical bowing was between 109
and 1,666 mm (mean: 770 mm, SD: 267 mm). For
males, these values were 114–1,389 mm (mean: 722 mm,
SD: 230 mm) and 109–1,666 mm (mean: 770 mm, SD:
267 mm), respectively. For females, they were 114–
1,389 mm (mean: 722 mm, SD: 230 mm) and 109–
1,666 mm (mean: 770 mm, SD: 267 mm), respectively.
The differences between genders were not significant.
Cortical and medullar bowing was strongly correlated
with age (r= 0.269, p<0.006 and r= 0.234, p<0.017,
respectively). These significances were produced by females
only. Radii of curvatures of intramedullary nails
ranged between 150 and 300 cm and were higher than
the mean cortical (77 cm) and medullary (72.2 cm) bowings.
Conclusion: The difference between the curves of
femur and the contemporary femoral nails implicates the
inadequacy of the design of such nails for the Caucasian
race living in Anatolia. Therefore, such nails should be
revised accordingly to prevent the above-mentioned
complications.
