Nancy Nail

In 1979, a group of French surgeons in Nancy began using elastic intra-medullary nails (ESIN) (Parsch 1997). Over the last 10-15 years, Nancy nails have become the standard form of treatment for fractures of the femoral shaft in children from the age of 6 years until the capital femoral physis has closed (Fig. 9.3). Nancy nails are made from titanium and do not cause as much artefact with MR imaging. 

Fig. 9.3. Transverse fracture of femur stabilized with Nancy nails. Note periosteal callus. This is not rigid internal fixation. The nails cross proximal and distal to fracture but are separated at the fracture site giving optimal stability...

Fig. 9.4a,b. Femoral shaft fracture stabilized with Nancy nails. Lateral nail inserted through tip of greater trochanter to improve proximal stability, a both nails appear to be within the medullary canal on AP. b lateral view reveals that the medial nail has pierced the cortex in the calcar region... 

If it is felt that a femoral fracture merits internal fixation but the medullary canal is too narrow to accommodate two Nancy nails (generally, 6 mm), plate and screw fixation remains a viable alternative. 

Fig. 18.18. a,b AP and lateral radiographs of radial neck fracture displaced by reduction of the dislocated elbow. Radial head lies adjacent to the capitellum. c Intraoperative radiographs showing intramedullary nancy nail and percutaneous wire used to manipulate the femoral head, d Post reduction film... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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