Patent ID: 7101376

Claim:
A method for reducing fractures comprising the steps of: (a) Inserting an intramedullary nail into a cortical bone of a patient wherein the intramedullary nail comprises a hollow interior for use as a guidewire track and a plurality of screw openings adapted to receive a plurality of screws; (b) Inserting a first distal screw and locking the first distal screw in a first screw opening; (c) Inserting a threaded guidewire through the guidewire track; (d) Inserting a second screw proximal to the first distal screw and tightening the second screw thereby pushing the threaded guidewire into the first distal screw and causing the guidewire and first distal screw threads to interact; and (e) Inserting sequentially each of the remainder of the plurality of screws and tightening each of the remainder of the plurality of screws thereby pushing the threaded guidewire into a previously inserted screw and causing the guidewire and threads on the previously inserted screw to interact so that the plurality of screws necessary to reduce the fracture are inserted and tightened in place.