| Limb lengthening and reconstruction: Intramedullary nail | 2545.00000000000 | Limb lengthening and reconstruction: Intramedullary nail | Limb lengthening and reconstruction: Intramedullary nail | L | English | Orthopaedics/Musculoskeletal | School age child (5-8 years);Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Legs | Bones | Procedures | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2015-08-31T04:00:00Z | | Simon P. Kelley, MBChB, FRCS (Tr and Orth);Catharine Bradley, MSc, BScPT;Alexandra Maxwell, BSc | | | | 7.80000000000000 | 66.4000000000000 | 504.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p> Find out how a motorized intramedullary nail helps lengthen your child's limb.</p> | | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>A motorized intramedullary nail can lengthen and sometimes also straighten a bone.</li><li>The nail is placed inside the bone during surgery and has a special motor that responds to a remote control. The remote control is programmed with instructions from your child’s surgeon.</li><li>Your child will need to use crutches to help them walk while the nail is in place.<br></li></ul> | <p>A motorized intramedullary nail is a type of internal limb lengthening device. Sometimes it can also straighten a crooked bone while it lengthens it.</p><p>The main difference between this device and the
<a href="/Article?contentid=2543&language=English">Taylor Spatial Frame</a> and
<a href="/Article?contentid=2544&language=English">monolateral rail</a> is that there are no pins or frames outside the skin. This makes the device more comfortable for a child. The nail's location inside the leg also makes it easier to find suitable clothes to wear.</p><p>The device is not suitable for all types of limb lengthening, but your surgeon can discuss with you whether it would be a good option for your child.</p><h2>How is the motorized intramedullary nail attached to the limb?<br></h2><p>Your child will have surgery to have the nail inserted inside the bone that needs to be lengthened or corrected.<br></p><p>During the surgery, the surgeon performs an
<a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=2538&language=English">osteotomy</a> to divide the bone. This allows the nail to lengthen or correct the limb over time.</p><h2>How does the intramedullary nail work?<br></h2><h3>Design<br></h3><p>The nail contains a special motor that allows it to extend in much the same way as the lens of a telescope. This lengthening of the nail gradually spreads apart the bone at the point where it was divided during surgery. Over time, new bone grows in the space that is created.</p><p>Once the bone has achieved its target length, the nail is left in place until the new bone sets hard. This may take many months.</p><p>When the bone has healed, your child will have another surgery to remove the motorized nail. The surgeon will replace it with a solid metal nail to protect the newly lengthened bone.</p><h3>Programmed adjustments<br></h3><p>The motor inside the nail is controlled by a magnetic external remote control. This remote control contains instructions based on a program developed by your child’s surgeon before limb reconstruction surgery. The surgeon will review your child’s X-rays at clinic appointments and may use them to adjust the program slightly during treatment.</p><h2>How do I adjust the motorized intramedullary nail?<br></h2><p>To adjust this internal fixator, all you need to do is hold the remote control over the limb at set times. This will send a signal to the nail to lengthen a certain amount according to the program. Your child’s <a href="/Article?contentid=2546&language=English">limb reconstruction team</a> will teach you how to do this.<br></p><h2>Does my child need to take special care with the motorized intramedullary nail?</h2><p>Your child will need
<a href="/Article?contentid=1048&language=English">crutches</a> to help them walk, as they will not be able to put all their weight on the limb while it is lengthening.</p>
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