title: Comparative multicenter study of treatment of multi-fragmented tibial diaphyseal fractures with nonreamed interlocking nails and with bridging plates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A prospective, randomized study to compare patients with closed, multi-fragmented tibial diaphyseal fractures treated using one of two fixation methods undertaken during minimally invasive surgery: nonreamed interlocking intramedullary nails or bridging plates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients were studied; 22 patients were treated with bridging plates, 23 with interlocking nails without reaming. All fractures were Type B and C (according to the AO classification).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical and radiographic healing occurred in all cases. No cases of infection occurred. The healing time for patients who received nails was longer (4.32 weeks on average) than the healing time for those who received plates (P = 0.026). No significant differences were observed between the two methods regarding ankle mobility for patients in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The healing time was shorter with the bridging plate technique, although no significant functional differences were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Clinics Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hélio Jorge Alvachian
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Marcos Hideyo
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sakaki
authors.forename: Jorge dos Santos
authors.initials: Jdos S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Fernando Baldy
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.forename: Arnaldo Valdir
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Zumiotti
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome