"Failure" of forearm intramedullary elastic nails.
Elastic nails are an established modality for treating forearm fractures in children. These nails are usually removed 6-9 months after surgery as refracture may occur in 10% of cases if the nails removed earlier. We report a case of refracture of the forearm bones with elastic nails in situ, 5 months after the original fractures. The fracture was angulated approximately 80 degrees with the apex pointing anteriorly. Closed reduction was difficult and resulted in breakage of the ulnar nail. The authors describe the details and outline the management of this unreported complication.
Mittal
R
R
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Leeds General Infirmary, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3EX, UK.
Hafez
M A
MA
Templeton
P A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D011859:Radiography; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014458:Ulna Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*