What is a femoral nail?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Feb 27, 2026

What is a femoral nail?

Most femoral shaft fractures are treated surgically. An intramedullary nail is a metal rod that is inserted into the medullary cavity of a bone and across the fracture in order to provide a solid support for the fractured bone.

Also know, what is femoral nailing procedure?

During this procedure, a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the canal of the femur. The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position. Intramedullary nailing provides strong, stable, full-length fixation. An intramedullary nail can be inserted into the canal either at the hip or the knee.

Beside above, is intramedullary nail permanent? Intramedullary nailing is surgery to repair a broken bone and keep it stable. The most common bones fixed by this procedure are the thigh, shin, hip, and upper arm. A permanent nail or rod is placed into the center of the bone. It will help you be able to put weight on the bone.

Subsequently, one may also ask, what is an IM nailing?

An intramedullary nail is a metal rod that is inserted into the medullary cavity of a bone and across the fracture in order to provide a solid support for the fractured bone.

How long does it take to recover from femur surgery?

Recovery most often takes 4 to 6 months. The length of your recovery will depend on how severe your fracture is, whether you have skin wounds, and how severe they are.

Can you walk after femur surgery?

Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months. But you are not alone. Most people experiencing a femur fracture can begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.

How long does it take to walk after femur fracture surgery?

At some point, you may need physical therapy to restore strength and flexibility to your muscles. Doing your exercises as prescribed can improve your chances for a full recovery. Most femoral fractures take about 4 to 6 months to heal completely, but you should be able to resume many activities before this time.

How long does it take to recover from hip pinning surgery?

You will continue the rehabilitation program (rehab) you started in the hospital. The better you do with your rehab exercises, the quicker you will get your strength and movement back. Most people are able to return to work 4 weeks to 4 months after surgery. But it may take 6 months to 1 year for you to fully recover.

Can you break your femur?

Motor vehicle collisions, for example, are the number one cause of femur fractures. The long, straight part of the femur is called the femoral shaft. When there is a break anywhere along this length of bone, it is called a femoral shaft fracture. This type of broken leg almost always requires surgery to heal.

How do they put a rod in a broken femur?

Inserting the Rod

An intramedullary rod is inserted into the top of the femur and guided down through the fracture site and into the bottom portion of the bone. Surgical screws are inserted into the top end of the femur, through the rod and into the femoral head to secure the rod.

How do you measure your femur nail length?

Abstract

Tip of the greater trochanter to lateral knee joint line minus 2 cm. Measurement No.
Tip of the olecranon process to the tip of little finger, and Measurement No.
Tip of the greater trochanter to the upper pole of patella.

What is PFN surgery?

Abstract. In 1996, the AO/ASIF developed the proximal femoral nail (PFN) as an intramedullary device for the treatment of unstable per-, intra- and subtrochanteric femoral fractures.

What is nailing in Ortho?

An intramedullary rod, also known as an intramedullary nail (IM nail) or inter-locking nail or Küntscher nail (without proximal or distal fixation), is a metal rod forced into the medullary cavity of a bone. IM nails have long been used to treat fractures of long bones of the body.

What's the worst bone to break?

According to Courtney Engel, OTR/L, her years of experience have proven that “The elbow bones are the worst bones to break in the whole body.”

What are femur rods made of?

What are rods and nails? Rods and nails are long cylinders that are made of surgical grade metal (stainless steel or titanium). These devices are inserted inside the marrow cavity of a long bone (tibia, femur, humerus, or forearm bones). They are also called intramedullary (IM) devices, as they go inside of the bone.

How is intramedullary nailing done?

To align the fractured bones and provide optimal healing support, the orthopaedic surgeon makes a small incision through the skin and tissue closest to one end of the broken bones. The surgeon then inserts a small rod-like nail device into the hollow center of the bone, called the medullary cavity.

Is a Cephalomedullary nail an intramedullary nail?

A locked hip screw-intramedullary nail (cephalomedullary nail) for the treatment of fractures of the proximal part of the femur combined with fractures of the femoral shaft.

What is a Cephalomedullary nail?

The Cephalomedullary Nail was designed to help treat fractures of the femur, especially intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. A lag screw is placed through the nail into the femoral head to secure the nail in place proximally and help control the different segments of the bone while healing occurs.

What is a gamma nail?

The Gamma nail (Fig. 2) consists of a large intramedullary locked nail with a valgus curvature, an upper part shaped as a funnel, a large proximal opening to allow insertion of a long femoral neck screw and two small horizontal holes to allow for distal locking. The femoral neck screw can slide within the nail.

What is an intramedullary nail made of?

Intramedullary nails, used to repair fractured femurs, are currently made from stainless steel or a titanium alloy. The nail is slightly curved (typically a 1 cm bow over a 30 cm length) and hollow. Some designs have a longitudinal slit and holes at either end in which to locate fixing screws.

What is a Fixion intramedullary nailing system?

The Fixion nail is an intramedullary device that can be inserted through small incisions to fractured bones and then expanded to lock hydraulically.

Is there a standard rehabilitation protocol after femoral intramedullary nailing?

Conclusions: An evaluation-based rehabilitation protocol for femur fractures treated with an IM nail can facilitate restoration of function in a predictable manner and should be considered as a standard for patients with these injuries.

Do you remove intramedullary nails?

Intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for fractures of the tibial shaft, which might necessitate the nail removal due to complications in the long-term. Although considered as a low-risk procedure, intramedullary nail removal is also associated with certain complications.

Can metal rods be removed?

The removal of an implant should never be taken lightly. As with any orthopedic surgery, there are risks of infection, nerve injury, and a reaction to anesthesia. Moreover, the removal of an implant may weaken the bone or fail to alleviate the pain.

What is a rod in your leg?

In the most common surgery to repair a femur fracture, the surgeon inserts a rod or large nail into the center of the bone. This rod helps support the bone until it heals. The surgeon may also put a plate next to your bone that is attached by screws. Sometimes, fixation devices are attached to a frame outside your leg.

Is it necessary to remove the rod from tibia?

There is no consensus regarding the criteria and indications for removal of tibial IMNs after healing. The only consensus within the literature is that removal of implants is an operative procedure with a set of risks and complications that need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

When can I walk after tibia surgery?

If an "intramedullary nail" is used to fix the broken tibia (this is the most common type of surgery for a broken leg), people can typically walk on the leg immediately after surgery without a risk of the bone moving out of position or failing to heal properly.

What is tibial nail surgery?

Intramedullary nail fixation remains the treatment of choice for unstable and displaced tibial shaft fractures in the adult [1]. The goals of surgical treatment are to achieve osseous union and to restore length, alignment, and rotation of the fractured tibia.

Is intramedullary nailing internal fixation?

Internal fixation of fractures by intramedullary nailing.

How do you sleep after femur surgery?

Sleeping Position Tips After Total Hip Replacement Surgery

Sleep on a firm bed or mattress.
Use a pillow(s) between your knees to avoid crossing your surgical leg across the middle of your body.
Change positions as you become uncomfortable.
DO NOT sleep on your stomach.
DO NOT sleep with pillows under your knees.

How long do you stay in the hospital after femur surgery?

The average amount of time to stay in the hospital with a thighbone fracture is 3 to 5 days. You may need to go to a rehab facility to continue your rehab program before going home.

Is breaking your femur the worst pain?

Broken Femur

The femur is considered the longest, largest and strongest bone in the human body. So, when a bone of this size and strength is literally snapped in two, the pain is not only immediately agonizing, but also prolonged over a long period of time.

What does a hairline fracture femur feel like?

A stress fracture of the shaft of the femur is characterised by a dull ache felt in the front of the thigh that will develop over a period of weeks. The pain is often hard to localise and may even be felt in the knee.

What does a broken femur feel like?

If you have fractured the shaft of your femur, your symptoms may include: Pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising in your thigh. Inability to bear weight on your injured leg. Inability to move your hip or knee on the affected side.

How is a femoral neck fracture treated?

Because nonoperative management results in a secondary displacement rate of 40%, stable femoral neck fractures are generally best treated with surgical stabilization and immediate mobilization. Treatment is by operative pinning with three parallel cannulated screws placed adjacent to the femoral neck cortex.

Do they cast a broken femur?

Your doctor may use a cast to stabilize your broken bone. Your cast will likely be made from plaster or fiberglass. It will help keep the injured area stabilized and prevent broken bone pieces from moving while they heal. In rare cases, you may need traction to stabilize the injured area.

How long before you can drive after a broken femur?

People with post-operative fractures of the right knee, ankle, thigh, or calf bone could reasonably return to driving after six weeks of weight-bearing therapy.

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