Chiu FY, Lo WH, Chen CM, Chen TH, Huang CK. Unstable closed tibial shaft fractures: a prospective evaluation of surgical treatment.
THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA 1996;
40:987-91. [PMID:
8656490 DOI:
10.1097/00005373-199606000-00022]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To define the roles of the rigid interlocking nail and the semirigid Ender nail in the treatment of closed unstable tibia] shaft fractures.
DESIGN
Randomized, clinical, prospectively study with detailed comparison of parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data on 116 unstable closed tibial shaft fractures were collected. Randomly, 60 tibiae were fixed with interlocking nails and 56 tibiae were fixed with Ender nails. The follow-up period was 24 (16-32) months.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
In the interlocking nail group, the average blood loss was 189 cc, operation time was 51 minutes, length of hospital stay was 7 days, and union time was 14.2 weeks. In the Ender nail group, the average blood loss was 95 cc, operation time was 30 minutes, length of hospital stay was 5.0 days, and union time was 16.9 weeks. Student's t test was used for statistical significance.
CONCLUSIONS
For more comminuted unstable tibial shaft fractures, an interlocking nail is undoubtedly a better choice, but an Ender nail still is effective in some aspects of treatment in the less comminuted unstable tibial shaft fractures.
Collapse