Comparative investigation of percutaneous plating and intramedullary nailing effects on IL-6 production in patients with tibia shaft fracture.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of intramedullary nailing (IMN), open plating and percutaneous plating on the induction of IL-6 in patients with tibia fractures.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients with tibia shaft fracture underwent either intramedullary nailing (IMN, n = 15; 14 males and 1 female; mean age: 32.1 ± 15.6), ORIF plating (n = 8; 5 males and 3 females; mean age: 60.0 ± 17.8), or percutaneous plating (n = 7; 6 males and 1 female; mean age: 43.1 ± 21.4). Serum IL-6 cytokine levels were measured prior to, and 6 and 24 h after the surgery, using a special ELISA kit.

RESULTS

The IL-6 concentration increased to peak levels at 6 h in both IMN and percutaneous plating groups, and at 24 h in ORIF plating group (p < 0.001). The mean IL-6 concentration of percutaneous plating group was significantly lower than that of the IMN group at 6 h following the surgery (p = 0.022). In addition, the mean IL-6 concentration of ORIF plating group was significantly higher than that of the percutaneous plating group at 24 h post operation (p = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that percutaneous plating compared to the IMN has lower effects on IL-6 production in patients with tibia fracture.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study.