Failure to Remove a Trochanteric Entry Femoral Nail and Its Cause in Adolescent Patients: Two Cases Report

ABSTRACT

Trochanteric entry femoral nails have been widely used for fixation of femoral shaft fractures because of easier identification of the entry point. Young patients usually request removal of the nail after healing of the fracture. We experienced a failure and difficulty in removal of the trochanteric entry nail in two adolescent patients. In the patient in which the nail could be removed with difficulty, dense compact bone was formed through the empty interlocking holes and the nail was held just like a latch. This finding was quite similar to the computed tomography findings of the patient in which the nail could not be removed. In order to remove the nail, the newly formed, dense compact bone in the interlocking holes must be broken and detached from the femur itself. We suggest that dense compact bone through the empty interlocking holes might be a clue for difficult removal of the trochanteric entry nail.