Intramedullary osteosynthesis in fractures of the upper limb.

The authors present forty-four fractures of the upper limb treated by osteosynthesis using Rush intramedullary nails. These included metaphyseal, spiral, and multi-fragmentary fractures. This extension of the classic indications for this method is suggested as an alternative to rigid internal fixation. It is preferred because of its simplicity, rapidity of performance, and because there were no cases either of retarded consolidation or infection. In these respects it is superior to the traditional method using screws and plates which at some sites is very difficult to carry out.