The treatment of tibial and fibular fractures with a rectangle-shaped intramedullary nail.

Abstract

A study is reported in which excellent results were achieved with use of a flexible rectangle-shaped intramedullary (RIM) nail in the treatment of 171 tibial and fibular shaft fractures in a series of 165 patients. Mechanical analysis showed improved fracture stability compared to fractures treated with an Ender nail. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the method of treatment described in this report has not been discussed previously in the Western literature.