Retrograde Nailing for a Rare Post-Girdlestone Femur Fracture: A Case Report

TL;DR

A rare femur fracture after a hip surgery was successfully treated with retrograde nailing, allowing the patient to walk again.

Contribution

This case report presents a rare instance of femoral shaft fracture following Girdlestone resection arthroplasty and demonstrates the efficacy of retrograde nailing.

Findings

A patient with a history of Girdlestone resection arthroplasty experienced a rare femoral shaft fracture following a ground-level fall.

Retrograde intramedullary nailing successfully treated the fracture, enabling the patient to resume ambulation with prior assistance levels.

Abstract

Femur shaft fractures are common in orthopedic practice, but their occurrence following Girdlestone resection arthroplasty (GRA) is extremely rare. We report the case of an unusual ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture after a ground-level fall in a patient who underwent hip resection arthroplasty nine years earlier due to prosthetic joint infection. The fracture was treated successfully with closed reduction and retrograde intramedullary nailing, enabling the patient to resume ambulation with pre-injury assistance levels. This case highlights the importance of understanding biomechanical implications in patients with GRA and demonstrates the efficacy of retrograde nailing in managing such rare fractures.

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