title: The Fish Hook Technique of extracting broken intramedullary nails.
abstract: Removal of hardware in orthopaedic surgery is usually encountered in revision fracture surgery for non union, mal union, infection and peri-implant failure. If the hardware has broken this can make revision surgery even more demanding. Numerous techniques have been described to facilitate implant removal. A broken femoral nail is not an uncommon presentation of a delayed union or a non union. We describe a simple and innovative technique to remove the distal portion of broken intramedullary nails without causing any further trauma. This technique can be extended to include most hollow intramedullary nails.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Square, Leicester. mez001@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mehool
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.forename: Asef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alani
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Almedghio
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D020878:Device Removal / Q000379:methods*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged