Poor retention after closed reduction and cast immobilization of low-energy tibial shaft spiral fractures.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze retention in cast after closed reduction of low-energy two-fragment tibial shaft fractures.


METHODS
The material consisted of 72 closed tibial shaft fractures AO/ ASIF type A treated with closed reduction and plaster cast. Fractures were subgrouped according to the AO/ASIF classification and the initial fracture displacement was measured. Final alignment and the frequency of operative intervention due to early loss of reduction were analyzed.


RESULTS
40% of all fractures lost reduction and were operated on. The largest subgroup was A1.2 fractures, a spiral tibial shaft fracture with a fibular fracture at another level. Out of the 28 fractures in this group 61% were converted from cast to early operative intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Closed reduction and cast treatment of spiral tibial shaft fractures AO/ ASIF type A1.2 had a high failure rate.
Borg
T
T
Department of Orthopedics, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden. tomas.borg@jll.se
Melander
T
T
Larsson
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome