Closed Zickel nailing

A closed technique for Zickel nail insertion decreases morbidity, blood loss, and operative time. The Zickel intramedullary nail was originally developed as an open fixation device for fractures of the proximal third of the femur and subtrochanteric area. The open technique requires a lengthy incision, moderate blood loss, and time for insertion. For pathologic or impending pathologic fractures in sick patients, such a major operation is undesirable. The closed technique has been used successfully in five impending pathologic, three pathologic, and two traumatic subtrochanteric fractures. For these ten patients, the average operating time was one hour and 28 minutes with an average blood loss of 400 ml, a reduction of 40 minutes and 460 ml, respectively, over other available data. Time to ambulation and length of hospital stay are comparable to fractures treated openly. The closed technique is ideal for impending pathologic fractures, but may also be applicable to any pathologic or traumatic fractures that do not require an open procedure for alignment or supplementary fixation.