Hip Fracture Treatment: What is an Intertan Nail Surgery?
A broken hip is a major league injury, especially for older adults. When the femur bone fractures near the hip joint (an intertrochanteric fracture), the goal of surgery is to create a fix that is so stable it allows you to get back on your feet as quickly and safely as possible. For years, surgeons used various nails and plates with mixed success. But a newer, smarter piece of engineering called the Intertan nail has become a go-to choice for these challenging fractures because it directly attacks the main reasons why older implants failed. So, What Is an Intertan Nail? An Intertan is a type of intramedullary nail, which means it’s a long metal rod that goes down the hollow center of your femur bone. Think of it as a strong internal splint. But what makes the Intertan special isn't the nail itself; it's the screws that go through it and into the "ball" of your hip (the femoral head). Instead of using a single large screw like many older nails, the Intertan uses t...