Abstract: There is provided a medullary nail having a hollow body provided with a plurality of longitudinal concave zones (3) in the outer surface and contiguous zones of annular form (2) and having a cutter (4) at one end. The body is of tantalum, an alloy thereof containing more than 50% tantalum, niobium, or an alloy thereof containing more than 50% niobium and is provided with a female thread (1) at the end opposite the cutter (4) and is anodically oxidized and the wall thickness is approximately the same over the entire length.There is also provided a process for making the nail by rolling a sintered body of tantalum or niobium to form a sheet which is then shaped into a slotted tubular form and welded and then rolling, forging or pressing to form the concave zones (3) or making the tubular form by extruding it from sheet of sintered body material and then proceeding as above stated.

Abstract: A metallic device for the insertion and extraction of medullary nails having a guide tube (1) which is comprised of two successive longitudinal sections (2 and 3). Striking elements (7 and 11) are disposed on opposite ends of the tube and a displaceable strike bushing (6) is located on the tube between the striking elements.