title: Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibia.
abstract: We treated 36 open tibial fractures (32 patients) by primary intramedullary nailing and debridement and treatment of open wounds. There were 13 grade I, 14 grade II and 9 grade III according to Gustilo-Anderson classification. After a minimum follow-up of 8 months, there were two cases of superficial infection and one of deep infection. Thirty-one fractures united within 6 months with a mean period to union of 22 weeks. There were four delayed unions and one non-union. There was a longer union time and a higher rate of delayed or non-union in the complex and/or comminuted grade IIIB fractures. Intramedullary nailing, with appropriate soft-tissue treatment, gives good results in the treatment of open tibial fractures.
authors.affiliation: Nepal Medical Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Moehring
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhakal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*