Removal of Broken Screws of Interlocking Nail: technical note

Lee, Eun Woo; Kang, Ki Ser; Kang, Soo Yong; Kim, Jin Soo

Abstract

Concerns have been raised about the potential for hardware failure in interlocking nails and screws especially with small diameter nail. Existing techniques for removing broken interlocking screws can involve trephine over-cutting of the screws, which requires wide bone exposure and creates larger stress risers by enlarging the original screw hole. We present this new technique for removal of broken screws of 2 femoral interlocking nails and 6 tibia interlocking nails. This Steinmann pin ""punch"" technique is to drive the screws through the opposite cortex and soft tissue for removal through a small stab wound. The rationale of this technique is based on the less holding power of the interlocking screw which is not only a machinary screw but also placed on the metaphyseal portion.