Anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture: an ultrasound study of the patellar tendons of 36 patients.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic anterior knee pain is a common complication following intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture. The etiology of pain is often not known. This study sonographically examined the patellar tendons of patients with a nailed tibial shaft fracture.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Fifty consecutive patients with a nailed tibial shaft fracture were initially included in the study. Thirty-six of them could be measured at an average of 2.5 +/- 0.5 years after nail insertion (1.0 +/- 0.3 years after nail extraction).


METHODS
Reamed intramedullary nailing with 2 interlocking bolts at both ends of the nail (Grosse-Kempf-nail, Howmedica).


METHODS
The ultrasound investigation of the patellar tendons of the 36 patients.


RESULTS
Twelve (33%) patients were painless and 24 (67%) patients had anterior knee pain at follow-up. With the reference to the mean difference in the thickness of the distal part of the patellar tendon in the operated limb versus nonoperated limb, the result was 1.4 +/- 1.1 mm in the chronic pain group and 2.6 +/- 2.5 mm in the painless group (P = 0.135, [95% confidence interval for the group difference = -0.4-2.8]). The corresponding values for the proximal part of the patellar tendon was 1.4 +/- 1.3 mm in the chronic pain group and 2.3 +/- 2.3 mm in the painless group (P = 0.251, [95% confidence interval for the group difference = -0.7-2.4]). There were no statistically significantly differences between study groups in the blood circulation of the patellar tendon or at the entry point, calcification of the patellar tendon, granulation tissue at the entry point, or occurrence of low echo areas in the patellar tendon.


CONCLUSIONS
After intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture, patients with or without anterior knee pain show similar changes in the ultrasound investigation of their patellar tendons. Based on those findings, it does not appear to make any difference as to the approach used (paratendinous or transtendinous) for intramedullary nailing of the tibia.
Väistö
Olli
O
University of Tampere, Medical School, Tampere, Finland.
Toivanen
Jarmo
J
Paakkala
Timo
T
Järvelä
Timo
T
Kannus
Pekka
P
Järvinen
Markku
M
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010329:Patella; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler