Biomechanical study testing whether lag screw position (superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, or central) within the femoral head affects the mechanical performance of a Long Gamma 3 cephalomedullary nail in unstable peritrochanteric fractures created in 30 synthetic femurs. Constructs were evaluated for axial stiffness, lateral bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, and load-to-failure.
When placing a cephalomedullary nail for a peritrochanteric fracture, aim for the lag screw to sit inferior on the AP view (minimizing CalTAD) for maximum construct stiffness, and central on the lateral view (minimizing TADLat) for maximum resistance to cutout — and avoid anterior or posterior positions, which consistently performed worst on every mechanical parameter tested.
Biomechanical study testing whether lag screw position (superior, inferior, anterior, posterior, or central) within the femoral head affects the mechanical performance of a Long Gamma 3 cephalomedullary nail in unstable peritrochanteric fractures created in 30 synthetic femurs. Constructs were evaluated for axial stiffness, lateral bending stiffness, torsional stiffness, and load-to-failure.
When placing a cephalomedullary nail for a peritrochanteric fracture, aim for the lag screw to sit inferior on the AP view (minimizing CalTAD) for maximum construct stiffness, and central on the lateral view (minimizing TADLat) for maximum resistance to cutout — and avoid anterior or posterior positions, which consistently performed worst on every mechanical parameter tested.