title: Multiple fracture of medullary tube during intramedullary nailing of long bone fractures.
abstract: Intramedullary nailing is an accepted treatment for the fixation of femoral and tibial shaft fractures. There is a low but significant incidence of intraoperative complications during intramedullary nailing. During this procedure, a medullary tube may be used to exchange the bent olive-tipped reaming guidewire for the straight guidewire. A review of the literature found only one report of a fracture of the medullary tube. Two cases in which the medullary tube fractured into multiple pieces are presented.
authors.affiliation: Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Vakharia
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mohler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male