Efficacy And Safety Of Interlocked Intramedullary Nailing For Open Fracture Shaft Of Tibia.

BACKGROUND

Due to increasing population and changing human habits the number of accidents and high energy trauma is rising. Management of open fracture tibia is a complex problem and is a challenge for both orthopaedic and plastic surgeons. The study was carried out to ascertain the efficacy and safety of interlocked intra-medullary nailing for open shaft tibial fractures in patients presenting at or after 24hr of injury.

METHODS

In this descriptive case series, over a period of 6 moths, 163 consecutive cases of open fracture of tibial shaft were reviewed in terms of clinical profile, time of presentation, and gender distribution.

RESULTS

In this study mean age was 30±0.02 years. Males comprised 85% of study population while 15% were females. Gustilo-I type fracture and Gustilo-II type fracture was diagnosed in 90% and 10% patients respectively. Thirty three percent patients had wound infection while fracture union was found in 15% cases. Moreover interlocked intramedullary nailing for open fracture shaft of tibia was safe in 80% patients while this procedure was effective in 85%.

CONCLUSIONS

Un-reamed, interlocked intra-medullary nailing may be considered as a suitable option for treatment of open fractures of tibia.