Complications and risk factors of intramedullary bone lengthening nails: a retrospective multicenter cohort study of 314 FITBONE and PRECICE nails

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intramedullary bone-lengthening nails have become increasingly popular. The 2 most used and successful nails are the FITBONE and the PRECICE nails. Uniform reporting is lacking on complications of intramedullary bone-lengthening nails. The purpose was therefore to assess and categorize the complications of lower limb bone-lengthening nails and investigate risk factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of patients operated on with intramedullary lengthening nails at 2 hospitals. We included only lower limb lengthening with FITBONE and PRECICE nails. Recorded patient data was patient demographics, nail information, and any complication. Complications were graded according to severity and origin classification. Complication risk factors were assessed with modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS: 314 segments in 257 patients were included. The FITBONE nail was predominantly used (75%), and most of the lengthenings were performed in the femur (80%). 53% of the patients had complications. 269 complications were identified in 175 segments (144 patients). Device-related complications were most frequent (0.3 complications/segment), followed by joint complications (0.2 complications/segment). An increased relative risk was found for complications in the tibia compared with the femur and for age groups above 30 years compared with the 10-19 years group.

CONCLUSION: Complications with intramedullary bone lengthening nails were more frequent than has previously been reported, with 53% of patients sustaining a complication. Future studies need to document the complications meticulously so that the true risk can be established.