Abstract:
Purpose: The occurence of complications after reamed and unreamed nailing of the tibial shaft should be analyzed to raise the awareness of quality and of occuring complications. In addition our own results should be compared to international studies in order to be able to pronounce a better recommendation of treatment.
Material and methods: In between january 1995 and december 2001 110 patients suffering of tibial shaft fractures (67 male, 43 female, average age 40,7 years) were treated with tibial nailing. In 94 cases (85,5%) initially an unreamed nail, in 16 cases (14,5%) a reamed nail was used. 55 cases (50,0%) primarily with severe soft tissue damage were initially treated with external fixation. In these cases after an average of 10,9 days an intramedullary nailing followed. Primary additional procedures occured in 46 cases (41,8%). In 2004 a follow-up examination based on the criteria of Merchant and Dietz (1989) was performed on 88 patients (80,0%) with radiologically proved bony fracture consolidation. In order to prove if there is a statistically significant correlation between the applied nailing procedure and an occured complication a Pearson chi-square test was used.
Results: A complication occured in 21 cases (complication rate 19,1%). The complication rate in the unreamed group was 20,2% (19 cases), in the reamed group 12,5% (2 cases). The complication occuring most freuquently was the pseudarthrosis (9,1%), followed by the malrotation (8,2%) and the infection (1,8%). In all 21 cases where a complication occured (19,1%) secondary interventions were necessary (1 case of alternative plate osteosynthesis, 6 cases of additive plate osteosynthesis, 12 cases of re-nailing with reamed nail, 2 cases of temporary osteosynthesis by external fixateur). In all 16 cases (14,5%) of reamed nailing 2 cases (12,5%) of lateral rotation occured which could be operatively corrected in the further course. In all cases of reamed re-nailing, healing was achieved by bony consolidation. The average time of treatment in the group without complications (89 cases) was 505,1 days, lasting from the day of initial treatment until the day of complete material extraction. In the group with complications (21 cases) the average time of treatment was 847,5 days. The average time between the day of initial treatment and the day of secondary procedure in the complication group was 137,1 days. At the time of follow-up examination most of the 88 patients (80,0%) were satisfied with the treatment results. The results after the criteria of Merchant and Dietz (1989) were excellent or good in 75 cases (85,2%), fair in 8 cases (9,1%) and poor in 5 cases (5,7%). In our study the Pearson chi-square test showed no significant correlation between the used nailing procedure and the occurence of a certain complication (p = 0,229). However, the low number of cases in our study should be considered. Generally and concerning the acquired rates inside of our study there is a tendency of higher pseudarthrosis rates after unreamed nailing.
Conclusion: The treatment of tibial shaft fractures requires a differentiated approach. At primarily reamed nailing the complication rate concerning fracture healing disturbances can be essentially reduced by correct setting of indication. In our study there is a tendency of higher pseudarthrosis rates after unreamed nailing.
Reamed nailing should not be used in every case of tibial shaft fractures. Deciding between unreamed and reamed nailing requires constant consideration of advantages and disadvantages of each procedure and reconciliation with the individual character of each case. Thereby complication rates can be decreased.