ESIN (antegrade)

The ESIN method involves closed reduction and internal fixation with elastic nails.

It is difficult to treat shaft fractures of the distal third with retrograde nail insertion as the nail entry sites are too close to the fracture and the configuration of the nails does not produce sufficient stability.

Using an antegrade nail construct will provide sufficient stability in these fractures.

• 2.5–4.0 mm elastic nails
• Awl or drill
• Inserter
• Hammer
• End caps and insertion device
• Impactor
• Extraction plier
• Nail cutter

The end cutter is useful to avoid sharp ends and soft-tissue irritation.

For optimal stability, the nail diameter should be between 33% and 40% of the narrowest part (isthmus) of the medullary canal.

Both nails need to be of the same diameter.

Place the patient in a supine position on a traction table or radiolucent fracture table.

The radiolucent fracture table has the advantage that the leg can be freely manipulated during the procedure. Muscle forces can be neutralized by flexing the knee with a support underneath.

When positioning the patient check the rotational alignment of the uninjured femur.

Expose the bone at the entry points.

The usual entry points are 0.5–1 cm distal to the greater trochanteric growth plate.

Entry points should be at least 2 cm apart in the axial plane and at least 1 cm apart in the lateral plane. If they are too close, the cortex may split during the insertion of the nails.

There is a lower risk of iatrogenic fracture if both entry points are made in the metaphyseal bone proximal to the lesser trochanter. Alternatives include entry points in the lateral aspect of the greater trochanter.

Place the awl or drill directly onto the bone and perforate the near cortex, under direct vision, perpendicular to the bone.

Do not hammer the awl to avoid perforation of the far cortex.

When the medullary canal is entered, lower the awl or drill 45° to the shaft axis. Advance it with oscillating movements to produce an oblique canal.

Enter the medullary canal at the distal entry point with an identical technique.

Decide whether the crossing point of the nails is to be proximal or distal to the fracture site.

Crossing the nails at the level of the fracture must be avoided.

Precontour both nails in the distal third with the apex at the predetermined level.

The maximum nail bend should be at the level of the fracture about three times the diameter of the medullary canal.

Insert the nail through the proximal entry point into the intramedullary canal and advance it towards the fracture site with an oscillating maneuver.

Insert the second nail into the distal entry point and advance it towards the fracture site.

Once it has good contact with the opposite cortex, with the tip having advanced about two-thirds distally in the medullary canal, the contour of the nail is changed to an S-shape with the following maneuver:

1. Rotate the nail 180°.
2. Bend the proximal portion of the nail, which is outside the bone, in the opposite direction to the previous bend.
3. Apply a constant bending force whilst inserting the nail.

This produces an S-shape, which will provide contact with the lateral cortex at the fracture site and with the medial cortex of the proximal third of the femoral shaft.

Reduce the fracture freehand, with a reduction tool or with a traction table.

Advance both nail tips, with an oscillating maneuver, past the fracture site into the distal fragment.

If it is difficult to advance either nail while it is positioned against the cortex, rotate the tip towards the center of the bone and advance it across the fracture.

Once the nail has crossed the fracture, rotate the nail tip to return to the initial position.

If this is unsuccessful use a bone hook or Steinmann pin through a small incision.

Open reduction (through a limited lateral approach) may be necessary if closed reduction cannot be achieved.

Confirm rotational alignment of the femur clinically and radiographically. This can be done by:

• Fluoroscopy of the fracture site (matching shaft diameters)
• Comparing internal and external rotation to the contralateral side (consider preparing and draping the uninjured side)
• Fluoroscopy of proximal femur (lesser trochanter profile)

For more detail see the additional material on assessment of rotation.

Advance the nails and impact them medially and laterally into their respective condylar regions.

Align the nail tips so that they diverge.

If more stability is necessary and/or the fracture is very distal, the physis can be perforated with the nails.

A single pass of a smooth nail across a growth plate is unlikely to produce a growth arrest.

In very distal fractures it is impossible to get the maximum bend of the nails at the level of the fracture.  In this situation the nails should be contoured to cross well above the fracture to maximise diversion at the fracture.

Cut the nails with the dedicated nail cutter.

If this is not available, withdraw the nails far enough to apply the nail cutter.

Reinsert the nails so at least 1 cm of the nail remains outside the bone.

End caps are not recommended in transverse fractures as they may prevent fracture compression with weight bearing.

Check the range of internal and external rotation of the leg and compare with the contralateral limb.

Obtain final AP and lateral fluoroscopic views.

The patient should get out of bed and begin ambulation with crutches on the first postoperative day.

In most cases the postoperative protocol will be protected weight bearing for the first 4 weeks.

Routine pain medication is prescribed for 3–5 days postoperatively.

The patient should be examined frequently, to exclude distal neurovascular compromise.

Compartment syndrome, although rare, should be considered in the presence of severe swelling, increasing pain, and changes to neurovascular signs.

Discharge from hospital follows local practice and is usually possible after 1–3 days.

The patient should ambulate with crutches and begin knee range-of-motion exercises.

The patient is usually reviewed 2 weeks after surgery for clinical and radiographic assessment, and wound check.

Clinical assessment of leg length and alignment is recommended at one-year.

Clinical assessment of leg length uses a tape measure from the ASIS to the medial malleolus.

If there is any concern about leg-length discrepancy or malalignment, long-leg x-rays are recommended.

Leg length is measured from the femoral head to the ankle joint.

If the patient develops symptoms related to the implant, it can be removed once the fracture is completely healed, usually 6–12 months following injury.