title: Bone formation blocking closure of the expanded distal fins during removal of a Seidel humeral nail.
abstract: The authors report the case of a young patient in which, during removal of a Seidel nail four years after healing of a mid shaft fracture of the humerus, bone formation into the central canal of the nail through the peripheral slots, prevented the three spread distal fins of the nail to close. The nail could only be extracted by forceful use of the extracting instrument, fortunately without complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics-Traumatology, University Hospital of Heraklion, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece. kontak@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kontakis
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Papadokostakis
authors.forename: Emmanuel G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Velivassakis
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Hadjipavlou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic