Adolescent Lateral Entry Femoral Nail: 9 mm and 10 mm Diameters
Richard Reynolds, Theddy Slongo
The adolescent lateral entry femoral nail (ALFN) is intended for use in adolescent and small stature adults depending on patient weight, body size, physiological development, neurological development, and neuromuscular coordination. The ALFN is indicated to stabilize fractures of the femoral shaft, subtrochanteric, ipsilateral neck/shaft, and impending pathologic fractures, as well as nonunions and malunions of the femur. The ALFN can also be used to stabilize corrective osteotomies in bone dysplasia, such as fibrous dysplasia where femoral deformity is an issue.
The ALFN is cannulated and until now was available with a 8.2 mm shaft diameter and a proximal diameter of 11 mm. Additional shaft diameters of 9 mm and 10 mm have now been added to accommodate the adolescents that are too heavy for the 8.2 mm nails, or very tall and slender. All nails come in lengths of 240 - 400mm in 20 mm increments.
The 9mm and 10mm nails are also indicated for small stature adults whose greater trochanter cannot accommodate the 15 mm opening drill bit used with the LFN's (which start at 9 mm). Surgeons can now treat the patients with a 9mm or 10 mm nail and only have to open the canal with a 13 mm opening drill bit.
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