[Fascicular nailing of the femur and tibia. 14 years' experience. Report of 275 cases (author's transl)].

The use of the fascicular four-pin nail has been introduced to correct certain inadequacies revealed by the rigid nailing according to Kuntscher's method; made up of four tiny pins soldered at each end, it fits the curve of the bone; its elasticity allows a much greater resistance to repeated strain as compared to other nails; an experimental study which compares the stability of fresh femurs cut then nailed according to different methods, reveals a definite superiority for the fascicular nail. The clinical use for 14 years (275 nailings among which 92 cases werefresh closed fractures of the femur) confirms that such a method provides the advantage of nailing without reaming as well as the possibility of immediate weight bearing ambulation for most patients (75% in the cases of resh femur or tibia fractures).