Orthopaedic nail. Fingers hold a smart" nail used in orthopaedic surgery to repair broken bones. The nail is made of Bioglass, a biodegradable material which breaks down in the body as the bone heals. This means that, unlike metallic bone implants, they do not have to be surgically removed. Surgeons may use a variety of implants, such as screws, pins, nails, bolts and nuts, to hold the bone fragments together until they can bond again. The nail was developed at the University of Ulm, Germany."