The Pugh nail-plate--a low incidence of device failure

A consecutive series of 118 patients with fracture of the proximal end of the femur treated by the Pugh nail-plate, is reported. The contribution of failure of the device to failure of fixation is analysed. Fifteen subjects had a failure of fixation either requiring removal of the implant or resulting in malunion of the fracture. In only 2 of the fractures for which the nail-plate was designed could failure be directly attributed to the device alone. In the remaining failures of fixation the device was inappropriately used or inserted.