To ensure comparability with the RCT, identical inclusion and
exclusion criteria were adopted. The inclusion criteria consisted of
high energy, polytrauma patients with a New Injury Severity Score
of greater than. Patients included had a femoral shaft fractures (classified
as 3–2 using the Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Osteosynthesefragen
(AO)/Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification system),
ideally treated with intramedullary nail. Patients younger
than 16 years of age, with chest abbreviated injury scale
score , and patients in ‘unstable’ or ‘in extremis’ condition (Pape
classification) were excluded from the study