Intramedullary Nail Removal: Do You Really Need It?

Conceptual illustration of a long bone beside an intramedullary rod and two decision paths.

Does a healed fracture mean the nail must come out? No. Intramedullary nail removal is not routine for every adult with a healed fracture. A metal rod inside the bone is not, by itself, a reason for another operation. AO Surgery Reference advises that nails generally do not need removal unless they cause symptoms. The […]