DRIM-NAIL - Distal Radius IntraMedullary Nail
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Will AO nail it? - #NeoArmory:
Intramedullary nailing is the closest analog to ‘keyhole surgery’ in trauma. It is biomechanically stronger in most cases (I know; controversial). This led to a subset of orthopods wanting to nail anything that moves.
Nailing distal radius fractures have been either controversial or ridden with complications. But, as with any technology, things improve with time; or do they? Let’s find out. AO Development incubator along with Swiss Surgeons have come up with DRIM-NAIL (Please change the name. Please) - The idea being able to minimize soft tissue complications.
The nail comes as a universal size, sterile pack - 7.0mm diameter titanium implant with 2.5mm screws for fixation made of stainless screws. The target population seems to be Extraarticular fractures.
This systematic review concludes although the IM nails are biomechanically as strong as the Volar locking plate, there is about a 9% chance of Dorsal branch radial nerve neuropraxia. But this group suggests that the complications are not statistically significant. A more exciting paper proposes that IM nails can be used for extraarticular osteotomies in the distal radius.
