KnotesFree Orthopaedic & FRCS notes, viva stations and higher order SBAs

Femoral shaft #

Must KnowTraumathinKbox SBA

Femoral shaft

B/L

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4
Hemodynamically ; unstable Hemodynamically ; stable
Pulmonary contusion Ex Fix Nail one; Plate/exfix other Good oxygenation
Pulmonary contusion Ex Fix Ex Fix Poor oxygenation
No Pulmonary contusion Ex Fix B/L nail Good oxygenation

Polytrauma

  • Delay beyond 12 hours reduce mortality by 50% (Morshed et al JBJS 2009)

Shaft with neck

  • Open shaft: deal with it as per BOAST guideline, then NOF
  • If shaft closed: NOF first then Shaft
  • Retrograde nail and screws

Hip disclocation with shaft

  • Relocate hip first from Theatre
  • If not getting reduced, shanz pins connected by rod used to reduce
  • if not getting open
    • Posterior: Posterior
    • Anterior: SP

Written/reviewed by Kishore Puthezhath

Professor of Orthopaedics and Consultant Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

FRCS (Tr & Orth) revision resource

Reviewed: September 2026