An intramedullary rod for the femur was designed and compared with rods
commonly used. Its bending strength was increased 40 to 80 per cent and its
torsional rigidity was increased 230 to 3,000 per cent compared with the
other devices tested. In forty patients with traumatic and pathological
fractures and osteotomies of the femur, excellent fixation was achieved and
very early weight-bearing was possible. In all fresh fractures and
non-infected non-unions, union occurred very promptly and bone-grafting was
not required in most instances. The stregth and rigidity of the device made
it exceptionally useful for non-unions, pathological fractures of the
femur, and resection-fusions of the knee.