title: The role of Ender rodding in tibial fractures with an intact fibula.
abstract: Thirty-three patients with tibia fractures and intact fibula were studied to determine the efficacy of Ender rod fixation in preventing a varus deformity of the tibia. Twenty-one patients were treated nonoperatively with five (23.8%) developing a significant varus angulation (greater than five degrees). No varus malunions were noted in those patients treated with Ender rods. Those patients treated with Ender rods and early weight-bearing had a shorter average time to union than those treated nonoperatively. We therefore feel that Ender rod fixation is a viable treatment modality in tibia fractures with an intact fibula. In these fractures the use of Ender rods helps prevent significant varus malunion and allows early weight-bearing, thus permitting early mobilization of the traumatized patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington Hospital Center Washington, DC.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Levitt
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Gunther
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wetzler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing