Management of gamma nail breakage with bipolar hemi-arthroplasty

Singapore Med J. 2009 Jan;50(1):e44-7.

Abstract

Gamma nail breakage is an uncommon occurrence that often arises from fatigue failure of the implant, with a reported incidence ranging from 0.2 to 5.7 percent. We report a 73-year-old woman with a three-part intertrochanteric fracture and who presented two years postoperatively with gamma nail failure secondary to fracture non-union. This patient underwent a revision long-stem bipolar hemi-arthroplasty and has been followed-up for 24 months, with good functional and radiological results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / methods*
  • Bone Nails*
  • Female
  • Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / instrumentation*
  • Hip Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Hip Fractures / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Prosthesis Failure
  • Radiography
  • Reoperation