The Grosse-Kempf blocked nail in the treatment of diaphyseal and metadiaphyseal fractures of the tibia.

The use of the Grosse-Kempf nail in the treatment of fractures of the tibia is limited for two reasons: (1) the medullary canal may be too narrow to permit adequate reaming to accommodate the instrumentation; (2) complex or comminuted fractures rarely occur without severe soft tissue involvement or exposure of the fracture. The authors report 24 cases treated since 1981. They describe the radiographic features, indications for treatment, time for union, and programme of rehabilitation.