Tibiotalocalcaneal nail failure in a 60-year-old male: Case report and surgical technique

Tibiotalocalcaneal (TTC) arthrodesis is a hindfoot fusion that can treat numerous conditions including osteoarthritis, Charcot arthropathy, avascular necrosis of the talus, and severe deformity. The goal of fusion is to create solid union across the joint while correcting deformity, leaving a shoeable plantigrade foot. Multiple biomechanical studies have demonstrated similar performance when comparing the properties of plate and nail constructs for TTC arthrodesis. Plate fixation and retrograde intramedullary nailing (IMN) are successful in achieving TTC fusion and favorable postoperative outcomes. Despite generally favorable outcomes, TTC arthrodesis carries the risk of complications including nonunion, infection, hardware failure, and revision surgery. We present a case of an individual who presented with a complete break of the IMN after TTC arthrodesis. We also describe the technique used for extraction of the broken nail.