Intramedullary nail
Intramedullary nail has been studied in 8 papers since 2017: 1 trial and 6 observational studies in people, 1 review; 1 in the past year. The newest paper, Oct 14, 2026: “Treatment and outcome of proximal femur fractures in a resource limited setting: a prospective observational study in rural Tanzania”.
8 papers study it12 findingsUpdated
1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 8
“There was a significantly improved regain of mobility for those treated with the intramedullary nail.”
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 6 independent labs in 5 countries
- 1 finding against
- Human trial1
- Humans6
Studies in people
1 study gave intramedullary nail to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves regain of mobility
no change: Has no effect on mortality
no change: Has no effect on fracture healing complications
Randomized trial1,000 peopleBothMean age 82 yearsUp to one year from injury
Older adults; Trochanteric hip fracture
Injury, Oct 20, 2017
What did studies of Intramedullary nail find?
9Studies of Intramedullary nail measured 9 outcomes; the most studied are mortality (4 studies), discharge to domicile by day-30 (1) and early mobilization (1).
Mortality
no changein humans3downin humans1
4 studies
Mortality
no changein humans3downin humans1
Intramedullary nail has no effect on mortality in humans (1.00, 95% CI [0.96, 1.03]).
“no statistically significant differences in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) (MD = -2.50, 95% CI [-6.46, 1.45], Z = 1.24, P = 0.22), the Barthel Index (MD = 2.66, 95% CI [-7.60, 12.92], T = 1,12, df = 2, P = 0.38), the generic quality of life (MD = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.08, 0.17], Z = 0.70, P = 0.49), the health-related quality of life (MD = -0.14, 95% CI [-3.57, 3.28], Z = 0.08, P = 0.93) or mortality (1.00, 95% CI [0.96, 1.03], Z = 0.16, P = 0.87) outcomes”
Reviewintertrochanteric hip fracture
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Intramedullary nail has no effect on mortality in humans.
“Adjusted relative mortality risk for IMN was 1.12 [0.96; 1.31] at 30-days, 1.03 [0.91; 1.17] at 90-days, and 1.01 [0.92; 1.11] at 1 year.”
Humanstrochanteric hip fractures (AO/OTA 31-A)30 daysn = 9,547
Injury
Intramedullary nail decreases mortality in humans (HRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.96, p = 0.007).
“Lower one-year mortality was found for IMN compared with SHS for stable fractures (HRR 0.87; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.96; p = 0.007)”
Humansstable fractures, 1 year postoperatively
The bone & joint journal
Intramedullary nail has no effect on mortality in humans.
“No statistically significant differences between the two types of fixation methods was observed for mortality, fracture healing complications”
Human trialTrochanteric hip fracture; compared with sliding hip screwUp to one year from injury77% femalesn = 1,000
Injury
Discharge to domicile by DAY-30
downin humans1OR 0.77
1 study
Discharge to domicile by DAY-30
downin humans1OR 0.77
Intramedullary nail decreases discharge to domicile by day-30 in humans (OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.71-0.84, p < 0.001).
“and lower likelihood of discharge to domicile by day-30 post-admission (OR 0.77, 95 %CI 0.71-0.84; p < 0.001) compared to SHS.”
Humanship fracture
Injury
Early mobilization
downin humans1OR 0.64
1 study
Early mobilization
downin humans1OR 0.64
Intramedullary nail impairs early mobilization in humans (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.70, p < 0.001).
“There was however a significantly lower early mobilisation rate with IMN (OR 0.64, 95 %CI 0.59-0.70; p < 0.001)”
Humanship fracture
Injury
Physical function
upin humans1
1 study
Physical function
upin humans1
Intramedullary nail improves physical function in humans (MD = 0.94, 95% CI [0.34, 1.54]).
“Harris hip score (MD = 0.94, 95% CI [0.34, 1.54], T = 3.54, df = 9, P = 0.006) favoring the nails”
Reviewintertrochanteric hip fracture
Geriatric orthopaedic surgery & rehabilitation
Length of stay
downin humans1
1 study
Length of stay
downin humans1
Intramedullary nail decreases length of stay in humans (1 day shorter).
“LOS was 1 day shorter for the IM nail group as a whole.”
Humanstrochanteric hip fracturesn = 46,121
OTA international : the open access journal of orthopaedic trauma
Postoperative mortality
no changein humans1
1 study
Postoperative mortality
no changein humans1
Intramedullary nail has no effect on postoperative mortality in humans.
“no clinically significant differences in 7-day, 30-day, 90-day, or 1-year postoperative mortality were observed”
Humanstrochanteric hip fractures1-yearn = 46,121
OTA international : the open access journal of orthopaedic trauma
Reoperation
downin humans1
1 study
Reoperation
downin humans1
Intramedullary nail decreases reoperation in humans (HRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.97, p = 0.022).
“Reoperation rate was lower after surgery with IMN for unstable fractures one year (HRR 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70 to 0.97; p = 0.022)”
Humansunstable fractures, 1 year postoperatively
The bone & joint journal
Fracture healing complications
no changein humans1
1 study
Fracture healing complications
no changein humans1
Intramedullary nail has no effect on fracture healing complications in humans.
“No statistically significant differences between the two types of fixation methods was observed for mortality, fracture healing complications”
Human trialTrochanteric hip fracture; compared with sliding hip screwUp to one year from injury77% femalesn = 1,000
Injury
Regain of mobility
upin humans1
1 study
Regain of mobility
upin humans1
Intramedullary nail improves regain of mobility in humans.
“There was a significantly improved regain of mobility for those treated with the intramedullary nail.”
Human trialTrochanteric hip fracture; compared with sliding hip screwUp to one year from injury77% femalesn = 1,000
Injury