[Multimorbid patients with poor soft tissue conditions: treatment of distal tibia fractures with retrograde intramedullary nailing]

Abstract

The appropriate treatment of a distal tibia fracture in multimorbid patients with poor soft tissue and skin conditions, poor peripheral blood supply and osteopenic bone is challenging. In this case report we present two patients with these characteristics. Given these exceptional conditions none of the conventional therapies (e.g. cast, internal plate fixation, external fixation, anterograde intramedullary nailing) appeared feasible. To achieve sufficient fracture healing, we chose an unconventional treatment approach of retrograde tibial nailing with inclusion of the ankle and subtalar joint.