Paragraph Number

48

The proximal end 106 may include a point 112. The point 112 may comprise a tapered wall that has an increasing smaller diameter until the point 112 comes to a single point or defines a blunt end surface for the point 112. The point 112 serves to facilitate deployment of the intramedullary nail 100 within the medullary cavity/canal. The point 112 can help guide the proximal end 106 through the medullary cavity/canal and can help move bone marrow aside as the intramedullary nail 100 is deployed. In certain embodiments, the proximal end 106 may also include one or more openings (not shown) for accepting a fastener (e.g., a bone screw) used to lock the intramedullary nail 100 in place, or fix the intramedullary nail 100, in place within the long bone. The one or more openings may include internal threads that engage threads of a fastener or may permit the fastener to pass through the intramedullary nail 100 and engage bone on an opposite side of the one or more openings.

Added by DJM 8 2021