Reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing for the treatment of closed tibial fractures-A comparative study

Abstract

Tibial fractures were the most common long bone fracture. These were treated by intramedullary nailing. Treatment of reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing was still controversial. This comparative study was conducted in the department of orthopaedic surgery in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Warangal, Telangana state, India with an aim to know the efficacy of both treatments. In this study the average duration of surgery was 7212 min, the average time to full weight-bearing was 9.2 weeks and the average time to union of the fracture was 14 weeks. The unreamed intramedullary nailing group demonstrated a significantly higher rate of fracture nonunion(R 3%,U 6%) and malunion(R 6%,U 9%). The significantly higher incidences of implant exchange, a higher risk of screw failure and dynamization were noticed in the unreamed intramedullary nailing group. Regarding the adverse effects like infection, compartment syndrome and knee pain there was no significant difference between two groups.