Failure of the titanium trochanteric gamma nail in ununited metastatic fractures.

Metastatic lesions often occur in the trochanteric region of the femur with a risk for pathologic fractures, requiring aggressive surgical treatment. We present two cases of mechanical failure of the Titanium Gamma 3 Nail 180 used for treatment of impending pertrochanteric pathologic fractures. Metallurgic and low power optical examination findings are presented.