[Intramedullary nailing as secondary intervention following prior use of external fixation]

The external fixation has its clear indications. In some cases, however, healing up of the bone fails to appear. This is caused partly by the gravity of the primary injury, partly by biomechanical reasons. The failure of a perfect fracture healing can require a change of the osteosynthesis procedure. Under certain conditions nailing provides good success. By means of 13 own cases conditions, indications and results of secondary nailing after prior external fixation osteosynthesis will be discussed.