Adult tibial shaft fractures - different patterns, various treatments and complications

Firooz Madadi, Alireza Eajazi, Firoozeh Madadi, Laleh Daftari Besheli, Reza Sadeghian, Mehdi Nasri Lari

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Tibial Fractures constitute a large number of emergency operations in most trauma centers. There are different approaches for tibial fractures. To our knowledge, there is insuffcient evidence to consider post-operative complications in relation to both surgical methods and the types of fractures. Our purpose is to report our experience regarding the effcacy and complications associated with diverse surgical methods of different patterns of tibial shaft fractures in adults. Material/Methods: We studied 387 adult patients. The patients' information was registered from the charts and after examination. The methods used were intramedullary interlocking nails, simple intramedullary rods, plating and external fxation. Early and late complications were recorded and by applying the DELPHI method different treatments were compared. Finally, the safest mode of treatment is proposed. Results: In the intramedullary interlocking nails method the most noticeable complication was delayed union and the highest rate of complications was seen in open oblique fractures. In the simple in-tramedullary rods method the most frequent complication was pain, and in the with butterfy fractures the complications were the most. In the plating method the most frequent complication was pain, and most of the complications were seen in open comminuted fractures. Finally, in the external fxation method the most frequent complication was non-union and complications were the highest in the patients with oblique, comminuted and segmented fractures. Conclusions: The proposed method to treat transverse, oblique and butterfy fractures is simple intramedullary rods; whereas intramedullary interlocking nails is the better method for comminuted, segmented and spiral fractures.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)640-645
Number of pages6
JournalMedical Science Monitor
Volume17
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Complications
  • Patterns
  • Tibia fracture
  • Treatment

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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