Entry Point for the Antegrade Femoral Intramedullary Nail: a Cadaver Study

OBJECTIVE To analyze the natural exit of the wire guides in major trochanter through retrograde femoral approach, in cadaver specimens. MATERIAL AND METHOD 100 femurs had been perforated between the femoral condyles, at 1.2 cm of the intercondylar region. A 3-mm straight wire guide was introduced, through retrograde approach, until the proximal extremity of femur was reached. Femurs were assessed for posterosuperior and anterosuperior portions of major trochanter, pear-shaped cavity, and upper median line between the head-neck and the major trochanter. RESULTS in 62%, the straight wire guides exited at the anterior surface of major trochanter. In the pear-shaped cavity, the median distance found was 1.0 cm and the interquartile range was 0.5 cm, initially expressing, in relation to pear-shaped cavity, better accuracy. CONCLUSION the central axis of the medullar canal, at coronal plane, projected better accuracy in the region of the pear-shaped cavity.