An Overview of Intramedullary Nails
Long bones are extremely crucial in the human body. They play a crucial role in supporting body weight during standing and movement. Fractures in the long bones such as thighs, calves, or upper arm, typically occur as a result of hightrauma incidents, such as falls and car accidents, which can make general movement and activity difficult. Fortunately, orthopedic implants, such as intramedullary nails, are available to treat such fractures. Intramedullary nails are widely used in fixing long bones, including the tibia, femur, and humerus (upper arm bone). In this blog, we will provide an overview of intramedullary nails.
What are Intramedullary Nails?
An intramedullary nail is a sturdy and rigid metal rod utilized in the management of long bone fractures. These nails are commonly constructed from stainless steel or titanium alloy. Various types of intramedullary nails are available, each specifically designed for fractures in different bones such as the femur, tibia, humerus, ankle, radius, ulna and fibula. For fractures in the femur, femur intramedullary nails allow fixation at multiple points along the damaged bone. Tibia nails are used for fractures in the tibia region and humerus nails for the upper arm region. Nowadays you can find locked, unlocked, reamed and unreamed, and dynamic and static locks for these nails. Both solid and cannulated versions of these nail types are available.
What is Intramedullary Nail Treatment?
Intramedullary nail treatment, also known as IM nailing, is a commonly performed surgical procedure for managing diaphyseal long bone fractures, particularly those in the femur, tibia, and humerus bones. Modern-day intramedullary nailing system allows for the treatment of metaphyseal and periarticular fractures too. During the procedure, a specific type of intramedullary nail is inserted near the fractured bone or guided into the medullary cavity of the bone using specialized instruments. This is called the internal splinting treatment. The nail is then fixed in place using screws or locking mechanisms at both ends of the bone. Intramedullary nails facilitate proper alignment of the fractured bone, and provide stability and support, thereby promoting healing and preventing malunion.
