title: Distal tibial fractures and non-unions treated with shortened intramedullary nail.
abstract: We reviewed 18 patients, 14 with acute fractures and four with non-union of the distal tibia, treated between 1990 and 2001 with a shortened, reamed intramedullary nail. The mean follow-up was 38 (8-144) months. The fractures united at an average of 16 (12-18) weeks and the non-unions at 20 (12-30) weeks. Two patients required nail dynamization. No limb shortening nor material failures were seen. All patients returned to normal daily activities. Although technically demanding, intramedullary nailing for distal tibial fractures and non-unions with a shortened nail represents a safe and reliable method.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Patras University Hospital, 26504 Rio-Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Megas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zouboulis
authors.forename: A X
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karageorgos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lambiris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome