Treatment of tibial fractures by reaming and intramedullary nailing

Abstract

We treated 112 fractures of the tibia by manipulative reduction, reaming of the medullary canal, and fixation of the fracture fragments with an intramedullary nail. Seventy-six of the fractures were acute, and eight of these were second or third-degree open fractures. The other thirty-six fractures had a non-union, osteotomy for malunion, or failure of other types of treatment. Follow-up of 100 fractures showed union in all but one, which was in a drug abuser who had an amputation due to infection. The main complication was infection, which was successfully treated in six of seven fractures. The method of treatment, employing either closed or open technique and recently making use of interlocking bolts to stabilize one or both principal fracture fragments on the nail, is an excellent one for unstable acute fractures and for secondary procedures in fractures that are not associated with infection. The infection rate was increased with the open surgical technique. The few contraindications to its use are described.