Original Article

The SIGN nail for knee fusion: technique and clinical results

¹ Soddo Christian Hospital, Soddo, Ethiopia
² University of Utah Department of Orthopaedics, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

^* Corresponding author: lucas.anderson@hsc.utah.edu

Received: 28 May 2015
Accepted: 30 November 2015

Abstract

Purpose: Evaluate the efficacy of using the SIGN nail for instrumented knee fusion.

Methods: Six consecutive patients (seven knees, three males) with an average age of 30.5 years (range, 18–50 years) underwent a knee arthrodesis with SIGN nail (mean follow-up 10.7 months; range, 8–14 months). Diagnoses included tuberculosis (two knees), congenital knee dislocation in two knees (one patient), bacterial septic arthritis (one knee), malunited spontaneous fusion (one knee), and severe gout with 90° flexion contracture (one knee). The nail was inserted through an anteromedial entry point on the femur and full weightbearing was permitted immediately.

Results: All knees had clinical and radiographic evidence of fusion at final follow-up and none required further surgery. Four of six patients ambulated without assistive device, and all patients reported improved overall physical function. There were no post-operative complications.

Conclusion: The technique described utilizing the SIGN nail is both safe and effective for knee arthrodesis and useful for austere environments with limited fluoroscopy and implant options.