Intramedullary compression nail for the treatment of bone fractures

摘要

A nail for insertion into the medullary cavity of a fractured bone, more especially a thighbone, consists of a hollow outer sheath of a diameter substantially equal to that of the narrowest part of the bone cavity, which sheath is longitudinally slotted at the front end adapted to be driven into the bone as far as the flared part at the far end of the bone cavity, while a short rear portion of the sheath is left to protrude out of the rear end of the bone. A wedge provided with inner screw thread is positioned in the slotted front end during insertion of the nail and is adapted to be pulled deeper into the sheath by the rotation of a screw-threaded bar passing through the hollow sheath, said wedge thus spreading the branches formed by the sheath material left between the slots and bringing them in contact with the solid bone structure.PPThe protruding rear end of the sheath is screw-threaded on its outside, and a nut can be screwed onto it, pressing a ring or washer against the outer portion of the thighbone, thus compressing the fractured bone portions and keeping them in proper alignment.