Management of Supracondylar Fractures of the Femur With Zickel Supracondylar Nails

Twenty-one cases of supracondylar fracture of the femur treated at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, during 1983-86, by intramedullary Zickel supracondylar nails were reviewed. The causes were high energy trauma in young patients (six), minor trauma in elderly patients (13), and metastatic malignant fracture (two). The functional results were considered excellent in 10, good in six and poor in five. There were two cases of superficial wound infection. All cases united after 3-6 months. The best functional results were in those patients below 60 years or with pathological fractures. It is concluded that internal fixation of supracondylar fractures of the femur with Zickel supracondylar nails is a successful technique and can be performed by open and closed methods. It is most useful in osteoporotic or pathological bone which is unsuitable for bone plating.