Ulna, complete fracture: ESIN (retrograde)

• 1.5-2.5 and occasionally 3.0 mm elastic nails
• Alternatively: 30 cm long, 1.6-2.5 mm K-wires with the tip bent
• Awl or drill
• Inserter
• Nail cutter
• Small hammer
• Optional: end caps

The end cutter is useful to avoid sharp ends and soft-tissue irritation.

Ring fixator wires may be used.

Bend the tip by approximately 30° to provide a gliding aid.

For optimal reduction and intramedullary three-point fixation, the nail diameter should be between 60% and 70% of the medullary canal.

Preliminary reduction is not useful as deformity usually recurs following manipulation.

The proximal lateral entry point is in common use.

The distal medial entry point is an alternative and useful in midshaft and proximal 1/3 fractures of the ulna. It is shown in this procedure.

Use small scissors or a surgical clip and small retractors to dissect to the bone under direct vision.

Note: Avoid injury to the superficial ulnar nerve and the basilic vein.

Place the awl or drill directly onto the bone and perforate the near cortex, under direct vision, perpendicular to the bone.

Do not hammer the awl to avoid perforation of the far cortex.

When the medullary canal is reached, lower the awl or drill 45° to the shaft axis and advance it with oscillating movements to produce an oblique canal.

Precontouring the nail for forearm shaft fractures may be required.

The medullary canal is small, and the nail may deform during insertion.

Fix the nail into the inserter and pass it into the canal.

Insert the nail with the tip perpendicular to the shaft axis until the far cortex is felt. Rotate the nail 180° and advance it using the curved side of the tip as a gliding aid.

If the tip is stuck in the far cortex and cannot be advanced, remove the nail and bend the tip to give a slightly more pronounced curvature.

Advance the nail to the fracture site with an oscillating maneuver.

Pearl: A short working length (3-5 cm) between the entry point and the inserter improves control of the nail during insertion.

In young children, the nail tip may become stuck because of the narrow medullary canal.

Do not use a hammer if the nail is stuck as this risks iatrogenic fracture.

Withdraw by 2 cm, rotate the nail to free the tip and continue advancing.

Point the nail tip toward the opposite fracture plane and advance the nail into the proximal fragment. At this point gentle hammer blows may prevent the nail from advancing into the soft tissues. Rotate the tip to reduce the fracture.

Advance the nail for 2-3 cm and rotate the nail back to the initial position.

Reduction can be aided by increasing the deformity to allow fracture surface contact using the nail as a joystick.

In the case of a multifragmentary transverse fracture of the ulna, thread the nail through the floating segment.

Fracture reduction under direct vision is likely with this configuration.

In case of a wedge fracture, sufficient bone contact is necessary for axial stability avoiding redisplacement and telescoping. If there is length instability the use of end caps is recommended.

The major fragments are reduced, and the wedge fragment is not disturbed.

If the nail cannot be advanced into the proximal segment, manipulate the fracture by distraction and rotation of the forearm and check using image intensifier.

This may reduce the fracture in both planes and allows the nail to advance.

If the nail cannot be advanced after three attempts, open the fracture zone for reduction and advance the nail into the proximal fragment under direct vision.

If an image intensifier is not available, an open procedure is necessary.

Make a small skin incision over the fracture zone followed by a small incision in the deep fascia.

The fracture often causes soft-tissue stripping, and the fracture fragments are located with blunt finger dissection.

Insert two small retractors so that both fracture ends are visible.

Pearl: Before opening the fracture, a threaded K-wire may be used to manipulate the proximal fragment.

Repeated attempts to achieve closed reduction and fixation may increase the risk of compartment syndrome.

The compartment status should be checked within 6 hours.

Advance the nail up to the strong metaphyseal bone.

Place the forearm in supination with the nail tip rotated towards the radius to tension the interosseous membrane.

If an image intensifier is not available, estimate the optimum nail length with a second identical nail placed parallel to the initial nail.

Cut the nail near the bone.

If a dedicated nail cutter is not available, cut the nail slightly shorter as the end will be sharper and this prevents skin perforation.

Gently withdraw the nail by 1 cm, cut the nail outside the skin and reinsert to the original position with an impactor.

Close the subcutaneous tissue and skin in a standard manner.

End caps may be useful for stabilizing length unstable fractures.

The nail should be finally advanced using the beveled impactor.

A small end cap can be screwed in over the nail using the inserter.