Treatment of unstable tibial fractures with interlocking nail versus Ender nail: a prospective evaluation

Abstract

Background: For unstable tibial fractures, there are many methods of surgical treatment. The efficacy of the Ender nail and the interlocking nail in the treatment of such fractures is examined.

Methods: One hundred and seven cases of unstable tibial shaft fractures were collected for the prospective study. Randomly, 61 tibia were fixed with interlocking nails and 46, with Ender nails. The mean follow-up period was 30.5 (23 to 40) months. The results of the different treatments were compared.

Results: In the group with interlocking nails, the average blood loss was 265 cc; operation time was 61 minutes; hospital days were 10.4; and union time was 15.1 weeks for closed fractures and 17 weeks for Winquist-Hansen type III and IV fractures. In the group with Ender nails, the average blood loss was 135 cc, operation time was 32 minutes, hospital days were 8.3 days, and union time was 17.6 weeks for closed fractures and 22.5 weeks for Winquist-Hansen type III and IV fractures. Student t-test revealed statistically significant difference between the groups in all of the data described above. However, treatment with the different nails showed no significant difference in results for open type I and II fractures.

Conclusions: Ender nail still has its superior usefulness in some aspects of treatment of less comminuted unstable tibial shaft fractures, but for the more comminuted unstable tibial shaft fractures, the interlocking nail is undoubtedly better used.