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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Treatment with Locking Intramedullary Nailing for Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Utilizing a New Awl with a Distal Positioner
Published on: June 6, 2025
Intramedullary Nailing of Periarticular Fractures
Walter W Virkus1, Laurence B Kempton, Anthony T Sorkin
1From the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital (Dr. Virkus, Dr. Sorkin, and Dr. Gaski), and the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC (Dr. Kempton).
Abstract:
Plate fixation has historically been the preferred surgical treatment method for periarticular fractures of the lower extremity. This trend has stemmed from difficulties with fracture reduction and concerns of inadequate fixation with intramedullary implants. However, the body of literature on management of periarticular fractures of the lower extremities has expanded in recent years, indicating that intramedullary nailing of distal femur, proximal tibia, and distal tibia fractures may be the preferred method of treatment in some cases. Intramedullary nailing reliably leads to excellent outcomes when performed for appropriate indications and when potential difficulties are recognized and addressed.
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