Surgical nail

An intramedullary nail comprising:

• a nail body having a central axis, proximal end, a distal end, and a wall surrounding a longitudinal bore extending along the central axis, the nail body formed of a material M;
• a plurality of transverse boreholes extending transversely to the central axis, each transverse borehole having a cross-sectional profile F and a transverse axis, where the cross-section F has a maximum length a in the direction of the central axis and a maximum width b perpendicularly thereto;
• and
• an elongate insert configured and dimensioned for insertion along the central axis into the longitudinal bore of the nail in the area of the transverse boreholes, the insert having a longitudinal axis and being formed of a material m along an entire length thereof and including an expansion at a distal end thereof, the material m having a modulus of elasticity e less than a modulus of elasticity E of the nail material M, wherein the insert is configured and adapted to interface with the wall of the nail to rotationally fix the insert in a predetermined position relative to the nail, and the expansion having a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the longitudinal bore at the distal end of the nail body to prevent the expansion from moving proximally into the longitudinal bore.

A method for repairing bone fractures comprising:

• introducing an intramedullary nail into the medullary canal of a bone, the nail having a central axis, proximal end, a distal end, and a wall surrounding a longitudinal bore extending along the central axis, the nail body formed of a material M and having a plurality of transverse boreholes extending transversely to the central axis;
• inserting an elongate insert along the central axis into the longitudinal bore of the nail in the area of the transverse boreholes, the insert having a longitudinal axis and longitudinal bore and including an expansion at a distal end thereof, wherein the insert is formed of a material m, along an entire length thereof, the material m having a modulus of elasticity e less than a modulus of elasticity E of the nail material M, and the expansion having a cross-sectional area larger than a cross-sectional area of the longitudinal bore at the distal end of the nail body to prevent the expansion from moving proximally into the longitudinal bore;
• aligning a drill with at least one transverse borehole of the nail to create a hole for a locking element;
• and
• inserting a locking element through the transverse bore and through the insert to lock the nail in position.