Functional Outcome and MRI of Muscle Damage Following Nailing Procedure in Femur (Thigh) Fractures Using Different Entry Points

Study focus is femoral shaft (thigh bone) fractures (break) that require surgical treatment under anaesthetic to stabilize the femur fracture. This is usually done by placing a metal nail and screws inside the femur (thigh) bone. This study has been designed to allow us to learn more about the effect of using a different starting point to insert the nail into the body in order to access the fracture and fix it. This question is important because to date, all entry points currently used do result in some muscle damage. In order to minimize this damage a lateral (side) entry nail has been developed and is currently in use at many centres. This nail is new but, the lateral entry technique for these types of fractures has been used extensively in the past, and this nail has been developed in order to better accommodate the technique. It is believed that entering laterally instead of going deeper into the tissue to access the bone to fix it is going to result in less muscle damage which in turn will improve functional outcome.