Patent ID: 8632543

Claim:
An intramedullary nail for use in a medullary canal of an epiphysis and a diaphysis of a long bone, said nail comprising: a body having a length in a longitudinal direction and a width in a transverse direction normal to the longitudinal direction, said body including a diaphyseal portion including an external periphery configured for placement in the medullary canal of the diaphysis of the long bone, the diaphyseal portion defining a longitudinally extending first surface thereof, the first surface defining a longitudinally extending first void and a proximal epiphyseal portion extending from the diaphyseal portion, the proximal epiphyseal portion configured for placement in the medullary canal of the first epiphysis of the long bone, and said first void being spaced apart from said proximal epiphyseal portion; and a first insert positioned in the longitudinally extending first void of the diaphyseal portion, the first insert and the diaphyseal portion of said body being made from different materials, wherein said first void possesses a first size and shape along a longitudinal extent of said first void, wherein said first insert possesses a second size and shape, and wherein said first size and shape matches said second size and shape along the longitudinal extent and a cross-section of said first void so that said first insert is fitted in said first void and is contained within said exterior periphery when said body is within the medullary canal, wherein when said first insert is installed, said external periphery remains uniform throughout said external periphery when viewed in a cross sectional plane normal to the longitudinal direction.