Retrograde femoral intramedullary nail, and related systems and methods

A retrograde intramedullary nail for retrograde insertion in the medullary canal of a femur, comprising:

• a body that is elongate and defines a leading end and a trailing end spaced from each other at a length sufficient to extend from an intercondylar region of the femur at least to a subtrochanteric region of the femur, the body further defining a leading portion that extends to the leading end,
• wherein the leading portion defines at least one locking hole configured to receive a fixation member, wherein the at least one locking hole defines a central hole axis, and the leading portion is configured such that the central hole axis extends through the neck of the femur and intersects the head of the femur, and
• wherein the body defines,
• an exterior surface having a primary surface portion that is substantially cylindrical within the leading portion;
• and
• at least one relief formation that deviates from the primary surface portion and is configured to reduce stress concentrations in the leading portion, wherein the at least one relief formation comprises a plurality of annular protrusions that extend outwardly from the primary surface portion.