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The Interlocking Nailing System and Technique

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Abstract

The advent of the interlocking nail has revolutionized surgical fracture fixation, with minimally invasive techniques that avoid further soft-tissue injury and preserve fracture biology. The continued evolution of designs has led to implants that are able to withstand axial loading, which allows for early mobilization and weight bearing. As the indications for intramedullary nailing have extended beyond the original scope of diaphyseal fractures, techniques have been developed to aid reduction and counter deforming forces. This natural progression of the humble interlocking nail has helped push it to the forefront of trauma management. Understanding of the biomechanical principles that underlie how interlocking nails work is crucial in being able to utilize the technique to the best effect. Here, we discuss the factors that influence how an interlocking nail works, the general principles of nailing techniques in the two most commonly nailed long bones in the body, and the application of an interlocking nail to a notoriously difficult fracture to treat—the proximal tibial fracture.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK

    Damien F. Gill, Fouzia Khatun & Wasim S. Khan

  2. ORCA (Orthopaedic Research Collaborative East Anglia), Cambridge, UK

    Damien F. Gill, Fouzia Khatun & Wasim S. Khan

Authors
  1. Damien F. Gill
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  2. Fouzia Khatun
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  3. Wasim S. Khan
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Formerly Locum Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    K. Mohan Iyer

  2. Division of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK

    Wasim S. Khan

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Gill, D.F., Khatun, F., Khan, W.S. (2019). The Interlocking Nailing System and Technique. In: Iyer, K., Khan, W. (eds) General Principles of Orthopedics and Trauma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15089-1_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15089-1_31

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-15088-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-15089-1

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