Der Orthopäde
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Reaming and non-reaming of intramedullary nails in long bone fractures was a controversial and even emotional topic in recent decades. This article gives an historical overview of the development in this field and presents the background to the need for unreamed nailing. Furthermore, the current state of knowledge is illustrated by describing the results of a series of randomised controlled trials. ⋯ The tide turned as randomised controlled trials conducted since 2000 gave evidence that unreamed nailing leads to a higher rate of delayed or non-union, while the advantages to blood supply and infection rate could not be proven. According to evidence based medicine isolated femur and tibia fractures should be nailed in a reamed procedure. In a severe multiple injury setting it is safer to stabilize long bone fractures with external fixators, as adverse events are described for reamed and unreamed nailing.
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The stabilization of long bone fractures through reaming the medullary cavity and insertion of an intramedullary nail, with or without locking bolts, was a standard procedure in fracture treatment for a long time. With the development of nails, which can be applied without reaming, the procedure lost importance. This publication presents the mechanical principles and impact of reaming on the bone. ⋯ Today nevertheless unreamed nailing is favoured especially in German-speaking countries. This is maybe due to the necessary classic procedure of planning, positioning on the fracture table and reaming in steps, which make the operation slightly more complex, requiring a certain amount of armamentarium and technical understanding. In any case reamed intramedullary nailing offers an alternative procedure for many indications; to treat a hypertrophic non-union of the shaft of the long bones it remains the method of first choice.
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Locked plating is one of the most modern plating techniques, the aim of which is to achieve the smallest possible surgical trauma, small incisions, preserve blood supply to the bone and adjacent soft tissues, and to ensure a minimal bone-implant interface.