Case One
This 18-year-old, right hand-dominant construction worker broke his right forearm in a fall. Most patients with this injury would be treated with a large plate and screws placed through a lengthy and unsightly incision in the forearm. Instead, this gentleman was treated with a Rush rod placed through a tiny incision near the wrist. Rush rods were invented in the early part of the last century by Dr. Rush from Meridian, Mississippi. The seemingly simple technique actually is quite difficult to master and consequently has never gained widespread popularity. However, as many orthopaedic surgeons can attest, by preserving the fracture hematoma (initial bone marrow bleeding) and not violating the soft tissue/periosteum envelope, fractures such as this will actually heal quicker. This gentleman quickly healed and returned to work with an excellent functional and cosmetic result.

Case Two
This is the case of a hard-charging athlete and marathon runner. While rock climbing near El Paso, Texas, he fell 30 feet. He sustained a broken wrist and a rather devastating broken heel bone. He was given a very poor prognosis by his treating orthopaedic surgeons and was given the choice of a foot fusion. Having worked with Dr. Lurate at the Navy Hospital he requested transfer to Dr. Lurate's care. His preoperative studies showed rather severe fragmentation of his calcaneus (heel bone) as well as a fragmentation of his wrist joint. He underwent external fixation of his wrist. This is a percutaneous procedure in which pins are placed through very small incisions in the skin. These pins are connected to an external frame. This device holds the bones in proper alignment until adequate healing has occurred. On the other hand, his calcaneus required a formal incision whereby the multiple fragments were meticulously repaired. This gentleman went on to place 30th out of 600 in a marathon 6 months later. Less than a year after the surgery he and his team took first place in the Blue Angel Marathon.

This preoperative CT scan gives a good indication of the degree of fragmentation.	This is a special oblique (Broden type view) postoperative x-ray showing virtually perfect restoration of the joint surface.

Case Three
This is the case of a 12-year-old growing child who broke his femur in a jet ski accident. Many similar cases are managed with an external fixator or a large plate with considerable permanent scarring. Prolonged traction is associated with a host of physical as well as social consequences. The typical rods used in adults are associated with some devastating complications to the hip joint in this age group.
This youth was treated with a Rush rod through a small incision near the hip. After a brief hospital stay he was discharged on crutches. He healed nicely with an excellent functional and cosmetic result.