Removal of a Distally Broken Cannulated Femur Intramedullary Nail: A Novel Technique From a Level 1 Trauma Center.

Abstract

This case report from a Level 1 trauma center describes a novel surgical technique to remove a cannulated intramedullary nail, broken at the distal aspect, from the femur. We present a 40-year-old male who sustained a hardware failure, breaking his medullary nail at the distal aspect 7 weeks postoperatively while performing water aerobics. The broken implant was successfully extracted without complication, and a subsequent nail was exchanged. A benefit of this technique is avoiding a femoral osteotomy, which may prove useful for the unique and difficult case of distally broken nails.