title: Interlocking intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial fractures.
abstract: Thirty-seven tibial shaft fractures in 34 patients were treated with the Grosse-Kempf interlocking intramedullary nail over a two year period. Thirty-six tibiae were consolidated at a median of 17 weeks; one had re-fractured following nail removal in a separate injury, but was now uniting on conservative treatment. Using very detailed clinical and radiological analysis, and excluding the patient who had re-fractured, the results were excellent in 19, good in 8, fair in 6 and poor in 3. The most significant complications were haematoma formation and additional comminution during nail insertion. Overall, we found tibial nailing to be a satisfactory procedure, facilitating rapid rehabilitation with early weight bearing and resulting in predictable fracture healing in good alignment.
authors.affiliation: Meath Hospital, Dublin.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Beirne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seigne
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McElwain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome