Removal of a bent intramedullary tibia nail

Breakage or deformity of intramedullary nails of the lower extremities is the result of subsequent high energy trauma, falling or noncompliance of the patient in partial weight bearing. We describe the removal of a bent tibia nail in a young patient who sustained another high energy trauma on the same limb. Different surgical options are discussed on the basis of the current literature. Possible removal strategies could be: drilling half diameter of the nail and then straighten it backwards, cutting the nail with a burr or removing the nail without any manipulation of the nail itself. The most customized procedure depends on the available capabilities and the individual case because of the rare occurrence of bent nails. Soft tissue damage, degree of bending and re-osteosynthesis must be considered in individual treatment strategies.