title: [Clinical results of primary intramedullary osteosynthesis with the unreamed AO/ASIF tibial intramedullary nail of open tibial shaft fractures].
abstract: From 04/91 to 06/96 sixty-nine open fractures of the tibia were primarily treated on the day of the accident with unreamed nailing (UTN, Synthese). The distributions of fracture type according to the AO classification and of soft tissue injury according to Gustilo were as follows: fracture type: A: 28%, B: 52%, C: 20%; soft tissue injury: I: 30%, II: 28%, IIIA: 12%, IIIB: 12%, IIIC: 6%. Of the 65 fractures assessed 46 (71%) healed within 18 weeks without secondary intervention. There was delayed healing in three fractures requiring secondary conversion to reamed nailing. Eight fractures (12%) developed pseudarthrosis of which five (8%) healed uneventfully. Deep infections was manifest in four fractures (6%). Three of these infections developed after secondary intervention to treat pseudarthrosis. Seven of the eight pseudarthroses and three of the four infections healed eventually. Revision procedures were necessary in 11 patients (17%) to deal with disturbed fracture healing or infection (10 reamed nailing procedures, three cancellous bone grafts, and one of each of the following: sequestrectomy, fibular osteotomy, plate fixation, external fixator, monorail procedure). The results show that the same good infection rates were achieved for the UTN as for the external fixator. The advantages of the UTN are, however, a lesser need for secondary intervention and greater patient comfort. Therefore, we find the UTN to be a good alternative to the external fixator in the treatment of open fractures with severe soft tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Städtisches Klinikum, Karlsruhe.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morakis
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pfister
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; 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 / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Klinische Ergebnisse der primären Marknagelosteosynthese mit dem unaufgebohrten AO/ASIF Tibiamarknagel von offenen Tibiaschaftfrakturen.