The Fish Hook Technique of extracting broken intramedullary nails

Removal of hardware in orthopaedic surgery is usually encountered in revision fracture surgery for non union, mal union, infection and peri-implant failure. If the hardware has broken this can make revision surgery even more demanding. Numerous techniques have been described to facilitate implant removal. A broken femoral nail is not an uncommon presentation of a delayed union or a non union. We describe a simple and innovative technique to remove the distal portion of broken intramedullary nails without causing any further trauma. This technique can be extended to include most hollow intramedullary nails.