title: Mechanical failure of intramedullary nails after fracture union.
abstract: The case reports of four patients with breakage of the intramedullary nail of the femur are presented. In all four patients the nail broke after consolidation of the fracture of the femoral shaft. All the nails broke at the same place: the junction between the round cross-section and the cloverleaf cross-section.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation