Retrieval of a broken intramedullary femoral nail.

A method of retrieval of the distal fragment of a broken intramedullary femoral nail is described. The procedure is simple and requires a steel drill, a standard nail extraction hook and a slotted hammer. The method was successfully used in two patients with ununited fractures of the femoral shaft in which the broken intramedullary nail had jammed in the distal fragment.