One-stage lengthening and derotational osteotomy of the femur stabilised with a gamma nail

Objectives: To study the results of a one-stage lengthening and derotational osteotomy stabilised with a Gamma nail. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: 2 hospitals, The Netherlands. Patients: 5 patients after failed osteosynthesis of femoral fractures. Interventions: Mean lengthening of 3 cm and derotation of 30 degrees. Main outcome measures: Complications and functional results, after a mean follow-up of 43 months (range 30-57). Results: Two patients required dynamisation and a cancellous bone graft to achieve union, which resulted in 1 and 1.5 cm loss of length. One patient had a temporary peroneal neurapraxy. No infections were observed. Conclusions: Our method is not an ultimate solution, but is suitable for one-stage lengthening and derotation osteotomies.