Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 17:46:30 +0100
From: Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Subject: Inflatable IM Nail
Dear all,
We begun yesterday on our Department using a new nail based on a new technology: metal inflation. It is a unreamed, auto-lockable, inflatable nail (Fixion). The first casewas easy, fast and smooth. It seems less traumatic than interlocking nails, reamed or unreamed, permitting a 15 minute procedure andhalf the time or less on image intensifier. I think it is a good indication for the less comminuted fractures on the 6-7 cm limit from the bone extremities. I will keep the List informed of the follow-up. Anybody with more experience with this nail?
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More images and informations at:
Best regards,
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 11:20:41 -0700
From: carlo bellabarba
I've never understood why locking bolts are considered such an ordeal. They are fast, easy, effective, and cheap (and certainly not traumatic).
carlo bellabarba
seattle
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 22:37:36 EDT
From: OTS1
we have a fair experience with the saline nail. not bad, not great, don't know how it will turn out long term. Any interested parties should contact Dr. Thomas DiPasquale in Tampa at 813-253-2068
roy sanders
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 20:46:12 -0700
From: Chip Routt
Did the malreduction occur before, during, or after nail inflation?
How did you correct it?
Thanks-
Chip Routt, M.D.
HMC
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 08:11:21 -0400
From: Dr. Manuel Sotelo
Dr Nuno Craveiro Lopes
The Fixion nail was shown last year in our National Meeting. I recall the inventor saying that it was good for central 1/3 fratures of the femur with a single line of fracture. Also the cases shown where only in the central 1/3 (single line fractures). Did the company widen the operable length of the device?
As for experience, because the nail is in the range of the expensive interlocking nails and the fracture can rotate they are not used much around here.
Regards
Manuel Sotelo
Caracas
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 22:48:25 +0100
Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Dear Carlo,
My point of view is that the inflatable nail do not substitute interlocking nails. But it can be a good solution if you do not want to ream the canal ontransverse, oblique, butterfly and segmental fracturesof the diaphysis, where unreamed interlocking nails showed insufficient results. The very comminuted diaphyseal fractures or metaphyseal fractures are not a good indication for this kind of nail, but good for interlocking ones.
Best regards,
Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Almada, Portugal
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 23:36:24 +0100
From: Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Dear Manuel,
As I understand by the biomechanical data supplied, this nail is very stable for lateral bending and rotational forces, but less stable for axial loading, on comminuted fractures.
Its price is equivalent to the titanium interlocking nails. The inventor suggest its use in fractures at least 5 cm away from the extremities, but as you say, I will use it only on diaphyseal fractures on about 20 cases and wait for the results.
Best regards,
Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Almada, Portugal
Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 20:40:24 +0100
From: Nuno Craveiro Lopes
Dear all,
We have done the 2nd Fixion inflatable nail last Tuesday, for a 1st degree open distal tibial fracture. It was a 15 minute procedure and the patient walked next day out of the ward. The first patient had a eventful rehabilitation and was walking without crutches after one month (he was a polio patient on the operated limb). I am sending some pictures. Please note the hourglass shape of the inflated nail. I will keep the list informed of the follow up of those patients.
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Best regards,