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Case Reports
. 2023 Aug 20;15(8):e43826.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.43826. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Ipsilateral Foot Drop After Leg Traction on Fracture Table for Mid-Shaft Femur Fracture Nailing: A Rare Case Report

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Case Reports

Ipsilateral Foot Drop After Leg Traction on Fracture Table for Mid-Shaft Femur Fracture Nailing: A Rare Case Report

Jehad A Alzahrani et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Femoral shaft fracture, one of the most common orthopaedic injuries, is usually treated with intramedullary nailing. During the operative procedure patients are placed on a traction table. Traction tables facilitate the procedure but are associated with some risk. Here we are sharing a case of a 35-year-old male healthy young patient who sustained a foot drop post nailing of femoral shaft fracture on a traction table. This patient has had some recovery in six weeks but is still not fully recovered. We think traction tables are a very helpful tool but carry some risks that should be kept on mind for every surgeon, and for the patients too.

Keywords: drop foot; femur shaft fracture; iotrogenic injury; sciatic nerve injury; traction table complication.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Preoperative radiographs of the right femur, revealing a closed femoral shaft fracture. Anteroposterior view (A and B); anteroposterior view of the pelvis (C).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Intraoperative radiographs illustrate the anteroposterior view of the right femur. Trochanteric entry nail with proximal interlocking screw (A); fracture site (B); two distal interlocking screws (C).
Figure 3
Figure 3. Intraoperative radiographs illustrate the lateral view of the right femur fracture site (A) and two distal interlocking screws (B).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Postoperative radiographs illustrate the anteroposterior view of the right femur (A and B).

References

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