title: Closed nailing of tibial shaft fractures.
abstract: A total of 98 tibial shaft fractures were internally fixed by closed intramedullary nailing. Twenty-seven of the fractures were open and 71 were closed. In 62 patients (67 per cent) the fracture was the consequence of road traffic accidents; 32 patients (35 per cent) had other skeletal and soft tissue injuries. All the fractures united with a good range of knee and ankle movements; no disuse atrophy was encountered. Most patients returned to work early. In 14 patients comminution of the fracture resulted in up to 2 cm of shortening. Eight tibial fractures had delayed union. It is concluded that tibial nailing is a safe method of treatment for unstable fractures and for patients with multiple injuries.
authors.affiliation: Al-Razi Orthopaedic Hospital, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Gad
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Abul Kheir
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Booz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*