Modular intramedullary nail

A modular intramedullary nail comprising:

• a base nail member;
• a hollow cylindrical extension member for being secured to one end of said base nail member in axial alignment therewith, said extension member provided with at least one pair of openings therethrough said openings being aligned along a line inclined relative to an axis of said extension member;
• means for axially securing said extension member to said base nail member while enabling unrestricted rotation of said extension member relative to said base nail member so as to enable infinite anteversion alignment of said at least one pair of transversely aligned openings relative to the axis of said base nail member;
• and
• means engageable with said at least one pair of transversely aligned openings for securing said extension member in a desired rotational position relative to the axis of said base nail member.

A method for implanting an intramedullary nail into a bone comprising the steps of:

• implanting an elongated base nail member within the intramedullary canal of a long bone;
• providing the proximal end of said base nail member with a male tapered locking surface;
• axially aligning with the proximal end of said base nail member a hollow cylindrical extension nail member having a radially inwardly extending flange at the inner end of a female tapered locking surface formed in the distal end of said extension, said extension member having at least one pair of transversely aligned openings, each pair for receiving therethrough a bone screw adapted to secure said extension nail member within said bone;
• connecting said extension nail member to said base nail member;
• rotating the extension member to align at least one pair of said transversely aligned openings with a desired degree of anteversion;
• inserting a bone screw through at least one pair of said transversely aligned openings and into the adjacent bone in order to secure said extension member within the bone.