Achieving Locked Intramedullary Fixation of Long Bone Fractures: Technology for the Developing World

Overview

Journal Int Orthop

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2012 Aug 1

PMID 22847118

Citations 22

Authors

Jonathan Phillips

Lewis G Zirkle

Richard A Gosselin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Eighty per cent of severe fractures occur in developing countries. Long bone fractures are treated by conservative methods if proper implants, intraoperative imaging and consistent electricity are lacking. These conservative treatments often result in lifelong disability. Locked intramedullary nailing is the standard of care for long bone fractures in the developed world. The Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) has developed technology that allows all orthopaedic surgeons to treat fracture patients with locked intramedullary nailing without the need for image intensifiers, fracture tables or power reaming. Introduced in 1999, SIGN nails have been used to treat more than 100,000 patients in over 55 developing world countries. SIGN instruments and implants are donated to hospitals with the stipulation that they will be used to treat the poor at no cost. Studies have shown that patients return to function more rapidly, hospital stays are reduced, infection rates are low and clinical outcomes excellent. Cost-effectiveness analysis has confirmed that the system not only provides better outcomes, but does so at a reduced cost. SIGN continues to develop new technologies, in an effort to transform lives and bring equality in fracture care to the poorest of regions.

Citing Articles

Poor radiological outcomes and associated factors among tibial shaft fracture patients treated with intramedullary nail fixation at Addis Ababa Burn, Emergency and Trauma Hospital, Ethiopia.

Shugie Y, Kebede S, Adugna F, Demissie D, Desta T Front Surg. 2025; 12:1473038.

PMID: 39968030 PMC: 11832642. DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1473038.

Single-stage intramedullary nailing for patients with multiple concurrent long-bone fractures in a low-resource setting: what factors contribute to prolonged operative duration?.

Adesina S, Amole I, Adefokun I, Adegoke A, Akinwumi A, Odekhiran E Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2025; 51(1):51.

PMID: 39856457 DOI: 10.1007/s00068-024-02705-6.

Surgical Technique for Removal of Old Universal Slotted AO Femoral Nail: A Case Report.

Onizuka N, Douglass B, Swiontkowski M Case Rep Orthop. 2024; 2024:5603392.

PMID: 39391330 PMC: 11466587. DOI: 10.1155/2024/5603392.

Reamed intramedullary nailing of diaphyseal multifragmentary femur fractures (AO/OTA 32-C) without fluoroscopy guidance: prospective analysis of methods and short-term outcomes in a low-resource setting.

Adesina S, Amole I, Adefokun I, Adegoke A, Odekhiran E, Akinwumi A Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2024; 34(6):3109-3117.

PMID: 38963548 DOI: 10.1007/s00590-024-04040-3.

HOOK ASSISTED REDUCTION IN CEPHALOMEDULLARY NAILING WITHOUT TRACTION TABLE.

Tekin C, Gunaydin B, Kariksiz M Acta Ortop Bras. 2024; 32(2):e274533.

PMID: 38933356 PMC: 11197950. DOI: 10.1590/1413-785220243202e274533.

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