Figure 4

Removal of the plastic mold from the cured antibiotic nail. Nail completion: After the antibiotic impregnated cement has cured in the cooled saline bath, a scalpel is used to cut longitudinally along the length (A) starting at the two 2 cm cuts previously made. Grasping the side of the chest tube, pealing the plastic from the cement is effortless (B and C). The nail is cured, smooth and ready to be attached to the aiming arm (D).