Objective: To evaluate whether a single proximal interlocking bolt was sufficient during the treatment of extra-articular femur fractures with retrograde medullary nailing.
Design: Retrospective comparative study.
Setting: Academic Level 1 trauma center.
Patients: The study included 136 patients with extra-articular femur fractures treated with retrograde medullary nailing who met inclusion and follow-up criteria.
Intervention: The intervention included surgical treatment for a femur fracture with retrograde medullary nailing, with comparisons made between those treated with a single proximal interlocking (1 IL) bolt and those treated with 2 proximal interlocking bolts (2 IL).
Main outcome measurement: The main outcome measurements were as follows: (1) rate of nonunion and (2) rate of catastrophic implant failure.
Results: There was no difference in the rate of nonunion requiring surgical intervention between the 2 groups. There were no catastrophic failures in either group.
Conclusions: A single proximal interlocking bolt may be sufficient when using retrograde nailing for the treatment of extra-articular femur fractures.
Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
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