Treatment of femoral fractures after irradiation Journal Article


Authors: Lin, P. P.; Boland, P. J.; Healey, J. H.
Article Title: Treatment of femoral fractures after irradiation
Abstract: Twelve fractures of the femur occurred after irradiation in 12 patients during the past 15 years. All 12 patients had excision of a soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh. The periosteum was stripped in every case. The fractures had a deceptively innocuous radiographic appearance, which showed minimal comminution, displacement, and shortening. Treatment of the fractures was difficult and demanding. At a mean followup of 37 months, bony union was achieved in only four patients, and in all four cases union was delayed beyond 12 months. Because fracture healing typically is delayed, a loadsharing device such as an intramedullary nail may be preferable in treating these fractures. Primary or delayed bone grafting may be necessary, for no fracture united without bone graft. For elderly patients with low supracondylar fractures, primary endoprosthetic replacement may effect quicker rehabilitation. The possibility of local recurrence of tumor should be ruled out before definitive surgical treatment of the fracture. Closed, antegrade nailing in the presence of recurrent tumor may contaminate the flap for a salvage procedure such as hemipelvectomy and may compromise chances for cure.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; treatment outcome; aged; middle aged; bone graft; cancer surgery; limb salvage; bone transplantation; cancer radiotherapy; combined modality therapy; follow-up studies; radiation injury; time factors; sarcoma; thigh; soft tissue sarcoma; femur fracture; osteoradionecrosis; soft tissue neoplasms; fracture healing; femoral fractures; fractures, spontaneous; fracture fixation; pathologic fracture; fracture fixation, intramedullary; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Volume: 352
ISSN: 0009-921X
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 1998-07-01
Start Page: 168
End Page: 178
Language: English
PUBMED: 9678045
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Patrick J Boland
    160 Boland
  2. John H Healey
    547 Healey
  3. Patrick P Lin
    11 Lin