[Results of treating fractures of the femur and tibia with closed intramedullary fixation].

The paper presents the technique and results of treatment of 450 fractures of the femur or tibia. Closed intramedullar fixation has been employed. There was no surgical approach to the fracture site. The intramedullar nail was inserted through small incision remote from the fracture. Flexible reamers were used to prepare the medullar cavity. X-ray intensifier was used to monitor the procedure. If the fracture was located outside the middle third the nail was interlocked. Fixation achieved was stable, no additional immobilization was needed. Mobilization was started at the first post-operative day. No wound infection or osteomyelitis occurred. Weight bearing was allowed after 2 months for 80 per cent of the patients. In all cases the union was achieved before the end of the third month.