BACKGROUND Removal of broken intramedullary nails can prove challenging and several techniques have been suggested to achieve retrieval.1 The increasing use of retrograde nails for calcaneotalotibial arthrodesis has a particular problem: the cannulation is often too narrow to allow passage of hooks or other commonly used extraction devices.2 We propose a method using equipment that is readily a...

Implantable limb lengthening using noninvasively adjusted telescopic nails dates back to 1983. The newest technology is the Precice (Ellipse Technologies). A retrospective study of the first 65 Precice nails was carried out for the treatment of limb length discrepancy (unilateral) and short stature (bilateral). Successful lengthening was achieved in all patients. There were numerous distraction...

OBJECTIVES To assess the results and clinical outcome of delayed union and nonunion humeral shaft treatment using locked medullary nails. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The Russel and Taylor humeral locking nail was used to treat 21 patients with humeral shaft fractures at Al Razi hospital, Kuwait, from 1997 to 2001. Of these, 8 had delayed union and 13 nonunion. Also, 13 had previous operative treatme...

without significant bone anomalies was unlikely as child did not have affected relatives. There are wide variety of congenital or hereditary disorders in which there is total or partial absence of nails. These disorders are usually associated with other major congenital anomalies. Fetal phenytoin syndrome occurs approximately 7 to 10% of all babies exposed to phenytoin during pregnancy. The fea...

PURPOSE To study clinical and mechanical factors that predispose to failure of interlocking nails. METHODS Between October 1996 and December 2002, 286 femoral fractures, 211 tibial fractures, and 47 humeral fractures were repaired using variously designed interlocking nails. Fracture pattern, level and site, nail size and type, weight bearing after nailing, and union status were reviewed afte...

The nail unit is a dynamic complex which forms an important part of the integument. This complex consists of the nail matrix (NM), nail bed (NB), hyponychium, nail fold (NF) and the nail plate (NP). Cells of the nail matrix, under the protection of the proximal nail fold mature and keratinised to form the NP. The NM contributes to the most portion of the NP while about 10-15% is produced by the...