FRACTURE FIXATION USING POLYMERIC RODS AND TRANSVERSE SCREWS.

Intramedullary pins are a major method of internal fixation of fractures. Their primary disadvantage is the inability to control rotation. A potential advantage of plastic intramedullary implants is that they can be drilled intraoperatively, allowing the placement of screws distal and proximal to the fracture site to control rotation. Further application of this concept is the fixation of segmental defects; the transverse screws would prevent shortening, yet also provide screw fixation for comminuted fragments. In addition, the implant would not cause stress protection and thus would not require removal. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate healing of femoral fractures using flexible intramedullary pins with two transverse screws.