Extendable intramedullary nail with mechanical loading

There are various extremity lengthening methods in the literature. Lengthening with intramedullary nails is also important method which is emphasized recent years. In this study, in the light of previous studies, it is aimed to develop a new expandable intramedullary system providing lengthening in order to remove previous problems and complications and to annihilate leg length discrepancies at present and future without second surgical intervention as far as possible by lengthening the intramedullary nail.To this end, a new mechanically active intramedullary nail has been designed and constructed.The prototype of constructed intramedullary nail has been inserted in a synthetic femur (saw-bone ) and subjected to cyclic loading with Schimadzu AG-10 test device, thus, the operation of the system and the amount of lengthening per each loading were tested. As a result of the measurements, the intramedullary nail has achieved 0,1 mm lengthening per each loading. Consequently, it is evident that the system we developed, have several advantages in respect of the present leg lengthening systems. According to the results with in-vivo animal experiments, the success of the system will be examined and it will be ready for use on human.