Above knee plaster cast versus closed intramedullary nailing for fixation of fractures of the tibia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents an analysis of hundred and twenty two tibial shaft fractures [116 patients]. Sixty fractures were treated by closed intramedullary nailing and sixty two were treated by above knee plaster cast. Thirty fractures [24.5%] were open, and eighty one patients [69.8%] were victims of road traffic accidents, of which thirty two [27.5%] had other associated injuries in both groups. In the nailed group all fractures united with 85% good and excellent results, compared with six fractures which resulted in delayed and nonunion with 62.8% good and excellent results in the other group. One patient got infected in the latter group. The interval between injury and return to work was 20 weeks in the nailed group, compared with 33 weeks in the plaster cast group