Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38806688›Full record

ArticleEuropean journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie2024

Rates of interlock screw back-out are high with the retrograde femoral nailing advanced system for distal femur fractures.

Rahul Bhale, Sean T Campbell, Ellen Fitzpatrick, Gillian Soles, Mark Lee, Augustine M Saiz

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Increased screw backout with non-inlay design retrograde femoral nails.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026
    Article
  2. Fixation strategies for periprosthetic femur fractures around knee replacements: a comprehensive single-center analysis of 102 consecutive cases.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rahul BhaleDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Sean T CampbellDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Ellen FitzpatrickDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Gillian SolesDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Mark LeeDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
Augustine M SaizDavis Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California, 4860 Y St #1700, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA. amsaiz@ucdavis.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1955-8667

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThe retrograde femoral nailing advanced (RFNA) system (DePuy synthes) is a commonly used implant for the fixation of low distal femur and periprosthetic fractures. There is concern that the rate of distal interlock screw back-out may be higher for the RFNA compared to other nails (ON). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of interlock screw back-out and associated screw removal for RFNA versus ON, along with associated risk factors.

methodsA retrospective comparative study of patients who underwent retrograde nailing for a distal femur fracture at an academic level one trauma center was performed. The incidence of distal interlock screw back-out and need for screw removal were compared for RFNA versus a propensity score matched cohort who received other nails.

resultsOne hundred and ten patients underwent retrograde nailing with the RFNA for a distal femur fracture from 2015 to 2022 (average age: 66, BMI: 32, 52.7% smokers, 54.5% female, 61.8%). There was a significantly higher rate of interlock back-out in the RFNA group compared to the ON (27 patients, 24.5% vs 12 patients, 10.9%, p = 0.01), which occurred 6.3 weeks postoperatively. Screw removal rates for back-out were not significantly different for the RFNA group versus ON (8 patients, 7.3% vs 3 patients, 2.7%, p = 0.12).

conclusionIn this retrospective comparative study of distal femur fractures treated with retrograde nailing, the RFNA implant was associated with an increased risk of distal interlock screw back-out compared to other nails.

Indexed as

Bone NailsBone ScrewsDevice RemovalFemoral FracturesFracture Fixation, IntramedullaryAgedFemaleFemoral Fractures, DistalHumansMaleMiddle AgedPropensity ScoreRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsDistal femur fractureFemoral nailIntramedullary nailRetrograde femoral nailRetrograde femoral nailing advanced

Identifiers

PMID38806688
PMCPMC11377647

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.