Intramedullary nailing in segmental tibial fractures.
Thirty-eight consecutive segmental fractures of the tibia were treated by intramedullary nailing with the Küntscher-Herzog nail. Twenty-two fractures were closed and sixteen were open. Reaming of the medullary cavity was performed and adequate fixation was ensured by use of a plaster cast. Weight-bearing was allowed after thirty-days for closed fractures and sixty days for open fractures. All of the closed fractures healed without malunion or infection. Of the patients with open fractures, one had an infection; one, non-union; and one, malunion. In all cases but one, union was slower at the distal fracture.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011859:Radiography; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013977:Tibia / Q000098:blood supply; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing