Distal Femoral Nail
Spiral blade locking
Synthes
19
16
Insert spiral blade
Bring the spiral blade and the spiral inserter over the guide
wire through the aiming arm and to the bone. Insert the
blade manually or by gentle hammer taps to the connecting
screw attached to the spiral inserter. The correct insertion
depth is reached when the blade head is flush with the lateral
cortex. Verify under image intensification.
Detach the insertion instruments from the blade and remove
the guide wire.
18
Insert end cap
The use of the pink End Cap for Spiral Blade (451.895) is
mandatory.
It fulfills two functions: It prevents bone
ingrowth into the nail and locks the spiral blade proximally
providing a stable angle. The end cap presses against the
edge of the spiral blade preventing it from backing out.
Remove the insertion instruments.
Using the hexagonal screwdriver, align the end cap with the
nail axis and fix it by means of the holding sleeve. To minimise
the chance of cross-threading, turn the end cap counterclock-
wise until the thread of the end cap aligns with that of the
nail. By turning clockwise, completely screw the end cap into
the nail, so that the spiral blade is fixed. The last turns will
offer some resistance caused by a groove in the thread which
prevents the screw from loosening. Tighten the end cap
firmly.
Alternative
The end cap can also be inserted after step 16.
17
Proximal locking
Perform the proximal locking as described in steps 15 to 18
on pages 15 and 16.
pink
