Abstract
The paper analyzes the article on intermedullary nailing as a treatment for a femoral shaft fracture, explaining that the study was designed to evaluate what is considered a tried and true practice and to see if there is a significant increase in the amount of alveolar dead space in patients who undergo this procedure. The paper discusses whether patients with femoral shaft fractures have increased alveolar dead space as a result of the fracture; whether femoral nailing increases the alveolar dead space; and whether intermedullary-nailing increases the alveolar dead space.

From the Paper
"The article does an excellent job of describing potential pulmonary problems that result from long bone fractures. It has been previously demonstrated that pulmonary dysfunction can be decreased when patients undergo early intraoperative fixation. This is thought to be due to a reduction in the amount of time in which the fracture can cause vascular disruption as well as reducing the amount of marrow contents which can eventually find there way into the circulation and from there into the venous system, eventually resulting in embolic phenomena. This pulmonary compromise if most often clinical demonstrated via high ventilation to perfusion ratio that may demonstrate increased alveolar dead space."

Tags:post-operative, femoral, canal, pulmonary, contusions, predisposing, factors