REMOVAL OF STUCK FEMUR INTERLOCKING NAIL BY LONGITUDINAL OSTEOTOMY OF FEMUR - A CASE REPORT

Introduction:Gerhard Kuntscher first introduced the technique of intramedullary nailing in 1940s . It is a clover leaf shaped hollow tubular nail for intramedullary fixation of long bones. This nailing system has been a technological breakthrough for femur fixation which can be both anterograde or retrograde. Case Report:A 34 year old Male patient resident of Shahapur brought by relatives to JJ hospital, with chief complaint of pain at left knee since 8 days. Patient had A/H/O RTA after fall from bike in 31/12/2012 with head injury with left shaft femur fracture. Patient was operated at JJH with left femur ILN. History of head injury operated in JJ hospital with no details known to patient. There was also history decreased vision in left eye since trauma. Discussion:Interlocking intramedullary nails are used as gold standard treatment in majority of tibial and femoral diaphyseal fractures. It can be removed in certain circumstances when it causes soft tissue irritation, prominent locking screws, implant failure, infection, nonunion, malunion etc. Conclusion:This study shows that in removal of stuck or bent femur interlocking nails in which all other closed techniques have failed, open longitudinal femoral osteotomy with retrograde hitting of the nail can effectively aid in successful removal of nail.