title: [What are the advantages of UTN (unreamed tibial nail) in open tibial fractures?].
abstract: The AO-unreamed tibial nail (UTN) is an alternative to external fixation in the treatment of open tibial fractures. In order to compare the two implants we did a retrospective study. 70 unselected cases of open tibial fractures were treated by either method. 35 patients with primary UTN were compared to another 35 patients with primary external fixator. Demographic data, localisation and classification of fractures and soft tissue trauma showed no differences between the two groups. The main complications in UTN-group were hardware problems, in external fixator-group infections. Following UTN-treatment duration of first hospital stay and whole fracture treatment were shortened with earlier full weight bearing and fracture healing. Our study shows advantages in the treatment of open tibial fractures using the UTN compared to the external fixation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology
vernacular_title: Welche Vorteile hat der UTN bei offenen Unterschenkelfrakturen?