Arthrodesis of the knee with an intramedullary nail

ABSTRACT: The cases of twenty patients who had an arthrodesis in which an mtramedullary nail was used for stabilization were reviewed at an average follow-up of six years. The predominant indications were infection after total knee arthroplasty and post-traumatic pain and instability. Other indications included aseptic loos-ening of the components of a total knee arthroplasty, reconstruction after resection of a giant-cell tumor, non-union of a fracture of the distal part of the femur or the proximal part of the tibia, and failed external-compres-sion arthrodesis. Success was achieved in seventeen patients (85 per cent), and functional stability immediately postopera-tively was gained in all twenty. Of the three patients in whom the arthrodesis failed, all had sustained an intra