Experienced a flexNT installation failure the other day. It was a little frustrating. Attempted same day as an Apex Flex install. Both done with flex needles—the Apex went perfectly, but the flexNT just… didn’t fit! That extra 1–1.5 mm seemed to make a difference… did the math, and the hole made by the flex needle should be at most 7.85 mm (assuming negligible height)—just enough for the 7.5–8 mm Apex, but a little shy of the 9 mm flexNT. I imagine some stretch could be assumed, but this seems anatomy/location dependent.
The implant simply wouldn’t fit in the hole. A scalpel was broken out to try to make up the difference, but the installee tapped out before success was found.
Kinda just wondering if this is a problem that has been seen before? Is a flex needle install truly appropriate for a flexNT? The math isn’t checking out. Maybe a simple skill issue? Any considerations to note to help avoid this situation in the future?
The installee is now eyeing a direct scalpel install for the next attempt.
“appropriate”?
Well, I would say it is possible, but not really reccomended.
Its not simple, but it is doable.
I would suggest the install method would be directly related to the installer. If they can legally use a scalpel and have the skill to do so, use a scalpel, if not, then make do with the tools you have.
Thanks. This is kinda exactly what I was looking for. Yeah I wish we’d caught this before install. Or any indication that installing flexNT with needle is a little hacky.
For reference, 5mm diameter (4g needle) is a circumference of ~15mm of which you get half, or ~7.5mm, in terms of hole size when it’s laid flat. The flexNT is 9mm. The descriptions i’ve heard of the procedure is to get one corner in and “stretch” the opening the rest of the way while shoving it in.
That lines up with the math in my post, yeah. Did not see luck stretching, but per Pilgrims it sounds like it’s iffy regardless. Thanks for adding a notice so future issues might be avoided.
