title: Treatment of open tibial fracture with Ender nail.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This retrospective study aims to evaluate the effect of Ender nail in management of open type I and II unstable tibial fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1984 to 1993, 30 cases of open unstable tibial shaft fracture (with fibular fracture) were collected in the retrospective study. All were fixed with Ender nails. The followup period was 99 (24-135) months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average of blood loss was 140 cc, operation time 45 minutes, hospital day 10 days, and union time 20.5 weeks. Student t-test revealed statistically significant difference between open type I cases and type II cases in some parameters described above.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ender nail is effective in the treatment of open type I and II unstable tibial shaft fractures, but it should be used carefully, especially in cases with more comminution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: F Y
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*