Does open reduction increase the chance of infection during intramedullary nailing of closed tibial shaft fractures?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether an open technique used to obtain reduction during intramedullary nailing of closed tibial shaft fractures increases the risk of infection, compared to closed reduction and nailing.


METHODS
University level 1 trauma center.


METHODS
Retrospective database analysis.


METHODS
One hundred seventeen patients with 119 fractures from our trauma database who had sufficient follow-up and met study criteria. The patients were grouped by open versus closed reduction. Only OTA fracture types 42 A to C were included in this study.


METHODS
Locked reamed intramedullary nailing for closed tibial shaft fractures accomplished through either open or closed reduction.


METHODS
The presence or absence of infection as determined by the clinical presentation (erythema, warmth, purulent drainage, fevers, chills, increased pain at the fracture site), indicative laboratory work (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein), and/or positive culture.


RESULTS
There were 85 males and 32 females. The average age was 35.7 years; the average follow-up was 14.3 months. Of the 119 fractures, 79 had closed reduction whereas 40 had open reduction. The open reductions consisted of 13 with a formal incision (>1 cm in length), 22 with percutaneous incisions, and 5 with fasciotomies. There were no infections in the closed reduction group and 2 infections (5%) in the open reduction group. This difference was not statistically significant (P=0.1). The average time to union was 7.0 months in closed reductions and 7.3 months in open reductions. By latest follow-up, 107 fractures had reached union (89.9%), 1 had not (0.8%), and 11 were lost to final follow-up (9.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
Limited open techniques can greatly facilitate the reduction of closed tibial shaft fractures but raise concern for infection through exposure of the fracture site. This study found that the rate of infection for open versus closed reductions was higher but not statistically different. Judicious use of open reduction techniques during intramedullary nailing of closed tibia fractures seems to have a minimal risk of infection.
Tang
Peter
P
University of Pittsburgh, USA.
Gates
Charley
C
Hawes
Justin
J
Vogt
Molly
M
Prayson
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*