Treatment of Fractures of Femur and Tibia with the Telescopic Locking Nail: Design of a New Implant and the First Clinical Results

BACKGROUNDThis study was carried out to evaluate the first clinical experiences with the telescopic locking nail (TLN). The TLN is a newly developed universal locking nail system for both femur and tibia that permits cyclic dynamic loading at the fracture site while weightbearing. The nail can also be used for static interlocking or for compression of the fracture elements. The nail is strong enough to permit immediate weightbearing, and the diameter of 9 mm allows unreamed introduction in many cases. MATERIALSSeventy-one consecutive patients were treated with the TLN, 24 patients with femoral and 47 patients with tibial fracture or nonunion. RESULTSFunctional outcome, complication rate, and union rate were comparable to other interlocking nail systems. CONCLUSIONIts distinctive biomechanical properties and its universal application in both femur and tibia make the TLN a sophisticated, yet in practice simple, new asset in the practice of intramedullary nailing.