How to remove a bent intramedullary nail inexpensively: a technical trick
Article Category: Clinical vignette
Published Online: Jan 31, 2017
Page range: 277 - 280
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.1003.491
Keywords
© 2016 Joshua Odendaal, Elizabeth Peacock, Jack Cruz, Saqib Noor, James G. Gollogly
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.
Background
A bent femoral intramedullary nail is a rare complication following secondary trauma to an unhealed femoral fracture site. Existing strategies for removal require the use of specialized instrumentation such as a diamond tipped drill or a high speed burr. Specialized orthopedic instrumentation is often expensive and frequently unobtainable in the developing world.
Objectives
To provide a solution in resource poor settings and describe a unique approach to managing such complex cases.
Methods
Novel, low cost, and successful use of industrial instruments for removing a femoral nail bent in situ in a 43 year old man who would have likely required a much more extensive operation without it.
Results
Instrumentation was obtained from a local market and at a fraction of the cost of specific orthopedic instruments. This case presents a technical tip for managing this complication in the developing world.
Conclusions
In a resource poor setting, we can recommend the judicious use of inexpensive industrial materials and instruments to manage complex cases.