A research into early dynamization of interlocking intramedullary nail for treatment of tibial shaft fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To retrospectively evaluate effects of early dynamization of interlocking intramedullary nail on union of tibial shaft fractures.Methods From January 2002 to Septemher 2004,75 patients with tibial shaft fractures were treated in our department with internal fixation using static interlocking iutramedullary nails.Early dy- namization(6 to 10 weeks postoperative)was adopted in 32 patients (the dynamic group) according to the fracture con- ditions,while the other 43 patients were treated without early dynamization (the non-dynamic group).The healing time of fractures and the rate of delayed union in both groups were documented.Results All the cases were followed up for a mean duration of 6.5 months (range,4 to 13 months).The mean healing time was 115.6 days (range,105 to 126 days) in the dynamic group and 124.5 days (range,119 to 133 days) in the non-dynamic group.The difference was statistically significant between the two groups (P＜0.05).There were two cases (6.2%) of delayed union in the dynamic group and four (9.4%) in the non-dynamic group.The difference was not significant (P＞0.05). Conclusion Early dynamization of interlocking intramedullary nail can promote union of tibial shaft fractures.