The severity and prediction of anterior knee pain post tibial nail insertion.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of anterior knee pain and functional impairment post-tibial nailing to the contralateral knee and a background population.


METHODS
Patients were assessed by postal questionnaire, case note, and radiographic review. An age demographically matched control group answered the same questions.


METHODS
The Orthopaedic Department at our institution.


METHODS
Patients who had a tibial nail inserted between September 1999 and November 2004 in our hospital (85 patients). Twelve were excluded, and 52 replies from 73 cases (71%) were received. The mean age was 39.4 years (range 22-69), and 38 of the patients were men.


METHODS
Patients treated with AO tibial nail.


METHODS
Both knees were assessed using an analogue pain score (0-10) and a functional anterior knee pain score (0-50).


RESULTS
Of the patients, 83% had anterior knee pain following tibial nailing. The mean analogue pain score was 4.3, and the functional score was 33.3. The prevalence of anterior knee pain in the uninjured knee was 40%; in the control group it was 42%. Mean visual analogue scores were 1.3 and 1.2, respectively (both P<0.001 compared to the nailed side). Functional knee pain scores were 43.3 and 46.8 (both P<0.001 compared to the nailed side). Pain scores between both the knee on the injured and the contralateral sides correlated significantly (P<0.01). Last, the pain scores of the patients' knees of the uninjured side in the operative group and the scores from the control group appeared similar but not with statistical significance (P<0.57 analogue pain score and P<0.77 functional knee pain score).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant preinjury prevalence of anterior knee pain. Postnailing knee pain severity correlates with that in the uninjured limb. Relative risk of anterior knee pain postnailing is twice that of a comparative population.
Cartwright-Terry
Matthew
M
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, South Manchester University Hospital, Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. mctdoc@hotmail.com
Snow
Martyn
M
Nalwad
Harsha
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*