Mechanical evaluation of revision surgery for femoral shaft nonunion initially treated with intramedullary nailing: Exchange nailing versus augmentation plating.

Abstract

Exchange nailing (EN) or augmentation plating (AP) has been employed to treat nonunions after intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fractures. Although instability is a factor in hypertrophic nonunion, mechanical evaluations have been limited because the contribution of the callus to fracture site stability varies with healing. Our previous study illustrated the potential for evaluation using a finite element analysis (FEA) that incorporates callus material properties. This study aimed to mechanically evaluate revision surgery for nonunions using FEA.