Table 1.
Meta-analyses of Gamma nail breakage.
| Author | Total cases | Cases of broken nails | Nail type | Breakage site | Time | Cause of breakage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valverde et al. [17] | 223 | 1 (0.4%) | 1st GN | Proximal | N/A | N/A |
|
| ||||||
| Boriani et al. [13] | 1181 | 5 (0.4%) | 1st GN | N/A | N/A | N/A |
|
| ||||||
| Gaebler et al. [18] | 839 | 2 (0.2%) | 1st GN | Distal | 4 months | Direct trauma |
| 1st GN | Distal | 5 months | Nonunion | |||
|
| ||||||
| Pervez and Parker [19] | 35 | 2 (5.7%) | Long GN | Middle | 3 months | Delayed union |
| Long GN | N/A | 5 months | Delayed union (PF) | |||
|
| ||||||
| Van Doorn and Stapert [20] | 101 | 2 (2.0%) | Long GN | Proximal | 7 months | Nonunion (PF) |
| Long GN | Middle | 9 months | Nonunion (PF) | |||
|
| ||||||
| Docquier et al. [21] | 439 | 1 (0.2%) | 1st or 2nd GN | N/A | N/A | Delayed union |
|
| ||||||
| Álvarez et al. [22] | 843 | 5 (0.6%) | 1st GN | Proximal | 7 months | Nonunion |
| 1st GN | Distal | 7 months | Nonunion | |||
| 2nd GN | Proximal | 7 months | Nonunion | |||
| Long GN | Middle | 10 months | Nonunion | |||
| Long GN | Proximal | 8 months | Nonunion | |||
|
| ||||||
| Sehat et al. [23] | 100 | 1 (1.0%) | Long GN | Middle | N/A | Insufficient reduction |
1st GN: the first generation Gamma nail, 2nd GN: the second generation Gamma nail, Long GN: long Gamma nail, Proximal: the opening for the lag screw, middle: nail midshaft, distal: the opening for the distal locking screw, N/A: not available in the literature, and PF: pathological fracture.