intramedullary nail
intramedullary nail
A metal rod forced into the medullary cavity of long, weight-bearing bones (e.g., femur, tibia), which allows ambulation within weeks rather than months. Intramedullary nails have a cloverleaf appearance on cross-section and are made of titanium, which has a lower rate of mechanical failure and improved biocompatibility.Complications
Persistent knee pain (present in 3/4 of patients), arthritis (1/3), and atrophy of the quadriceps and calf muscles (1/4).