[Reducing the risk of infection by use of an unreamed intramedullary nail in open tibial fractures].

An intramedullary stabilisation with an unreamed tibial nail (UTN) was carried out in 75 patients suffering from first (n = 45) and second (n = 30) degree open fractures. In 23 cases (8 of which had a second degree and 15 a third degree open fracture) the treatment regime was changed from external fixation (EF) to an UTN. The results were compared with 112 patients with first degree open tibial fractures treated with a reamed tibial nail (RTN). A change from EF to RTN was carried out in 93 cases (21 patients had a first degree, 55 a second degree and 17 patients a third degree open fracture). The rate of infection seen in open fractures was reduced by using an UTN for the tibia (4.5% using RTN versus 1.3% using UTN in primary implantation; 6.5% versus 4.3% in case of changing from EF to tibial nailing). The UTN does not disturb the healing of the fracture and there is no increased risk of axis deviation.