Authors : J. Soleimanpour , J. Ganjpour , M.A. Mohseni , A.R. Sadeghpour , A. Moradi and A. Arzrumchilar
Abstract: Tibia is the most frequently fractured long bone in the body. Intramedullary nails have become the popular choice of implant in the treatment of tibial shaft fractures. Most orthopeadic surgeons are of the opinion that the use of unreamed nailing can be recommended in tibial fractures, especially for open fractures and fractures with severe soft tissue damage. Our aim was to achieve a base-line data about the general consequences of Unreamed Tibial Nailing (UTN). From March 2001 to March 2003,67 patients with tibial fractures who were admitted to emergency ward of Shohada hospital, Tabriz and were operated with UTN method during the following 48 h after the injury were enrolled into the cross sectional study. Demographic data, type of fracture, surgical complications (such as neurological deficits, surgical site infection, implant failure, delayed union, non-union and malunion) were recorded during hospitalization and 9 months follow-up. The mean age was 38.3�14.1 years and 82% of the participants were male. Open fractures accounted for almost two third of fractures (almost 30% of type 3a Gustillo-Anderson). Hospitalization time was less than a week in 77.6%. Only 1 non-union and 3 delayed-unions were recorded. There was no case of mal-union, infection and neurological deficits. Five patients had to undergo a second surgery (four cases due to failure of distal locking screws, one due to nail breakage). The results of this study show that the UTN technique is effective and safe in high energy tibial fractures due to high rates of union and low rates of complications.
J. Soleimanpour , J. Ganjpour , M.A. Mohseni , A.R. Sadeghpour , A. Moradi and A. Arzrumchilar , 2008. Undreamed Tibial Nailing: A Goog Choice in Tibial Shaft Fractures. Surgery Journal, 3: 74-77.