Difficulty in Removal of a Femoral Intramedullary Nail: The Geometry of the Distal End of the Nail

Different difficulties can be encountered during removal of an intramedullary femoral nail depending partly upon the design of the nail but mainly on bone ingrowth. This possibility is higher in younger patients and when nail removal is attempted long after initial insertion. We present a case of difficult nail removal. The nail design appears to be important in this problem.