Retrograde Tibial Nailing: A Case Study

JBJS Case Connect. 2025 Apr 25;15(2). doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.24.00562. eCollection 2025 Apr 1.

Abstract

Case: We describe a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented with a left closed, displaced distal tibia and fibula fracture and underwent closed reduction with retrograde intramedullary osteosynthesis.

Conclusion: This case report highlights that retrograde tibial nailing is technically possible and produced good results. Currently, it requires off label use of a nail designed for antegrade insertion using custom insertion and bending techniques. Retrograde tibial nailing is a reasonable alternative when a standard antegrade technique may not be possible or desirable. If further cases of this technique yield similarly good outcomes, it may be valuable to create a commercially available retrograde tibial implant.

Keywords: adult; female; retrograde nailing; retrograde tibial nail; tibial shaft fracture.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bone Nails*
  • Female
  • Fibula* / diagnostic imaging
  • Fibula* / injuries
  • Fibula* / surgery
  • Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* / instrumentation
  • Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* / methods
  • Humans
  • Tibial Fractures* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tibial Fractures* / surgery