Functional Outcome of Internal Fixation of Fibula by Closed Tens Nailing in Addition to Tibia in Distal Both Bone Leg Fractures

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Treatment of adult tibiofibular fractures, especially severely comminuted fractures, is technically challenging dueto the lack of reduction markers and difficulty in restoring the alignment. Fixation of the fibula can facilitate the reduction of thetibia fracture and restoration of the lower extremity alignment.Aim: This study aims to study the functional outcome of internal fixation of fibula by closed tens nailing in addition to tibia indistal both bone leg fractures.Materials and Methods: Patients with distal both bone leg fractures for whom fibular fixation was done in addition to tibia nailing inGovernment Rajaji Hospital, Madurai from July 2016 to September 2018 with a minimum 1-year follow-up were included in the study.Results: In this study among 15 patients, 9 patients did not have any angulation, 6 patients had varus angulation with mean varusof 2°, and none of the patients had valgus angulation. The mean range of movements in patients with fibula fixation was 96%. Themean time of union in these patients was 5 months (minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 7 months). Johner and Wruch’s criteriaAmong the 15 patients, 12 patients (80%) had excellent results and 3 (20%) had good results. There were no fair and poor results.Conclusion: Treatment of distal third both bone leg fractures by fixation of fibula by closed tens nailing in addition to the tibia isuseful in anatomical reduction of tibia and reduced malalignment of tibia with good ankle functions. Further randomized controlstudies are needed to assess the long-term functional outcome in these patients.