Retrograde nailing of femoral fractures distal to previous osteosynthesis.

As the proportion of elderly in the population grows, the incidence of femoral fractures distal to previous proximal osteosynthesis is increasing. When the gap between two rigid load-bearing fixations consists of osteopenic bone, the risk of further fractures increases. Herein the authors describe a load-sharing device that stabilizes the fracture and eliminates the osteopenic gap, allowing early mobilization and rapid return to the preinjury level of activity.