Malrotation after reamed intramedullary nailing with and without a fracture table for closed fractures of the femoral shaft.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of the choice of surgical table on the incidence of malrotation. METHODS The randomised trial was conducted from July 2012 to January 2013 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, during which 74 patients were inducted. Randomisation was done via random allocation software version 1.0.0 and sealed envelopes were used to guide the choice of table. Malrotation was assessed by the operating surgeon using the lesser trochanteric shape signunder intra-operative fluoroscopy. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The 74 patients in the study were divided into two groups of 37(50%) each using fracture table and the regular table.Overall, there were 55(74%) male and 19(26%) female patients with a mean age of 37±17 years. Overall incidence of malrotation was 13(17.6%). Malrotation was observed in 7(19%)patients in the fracture table group and 6(16%)in the regular table group (p=0.760). CONCLUSIONS The choice of fracture table did not influence the occurrence or direction of malrotation.