title: Intramedullary nailing of fractures of the tibia in diabetics.
abstract: We reviewed 27 diabetic patients who sustained a tibial fracture treated with a reamed intramedullary nail and compared them with a control group who did not have diabetes. There were 23 closed fractures and four were open. Union was delayed until after six months in 12 of the 23 (52%) diabetic patients with closed fractures and ten of the 23 (43%) control patients (p = 0.768). In two patients with diabetes (9%), closed tibial fractures failed to unite and required exchange nailing, whereas all closed fractures in the control group healed without further surgery (p = 0.489). In both the diabetic and control groups with closed fractures two patients (9%) developed superficial infections. There were two (9%) deep infections in diabetic patients with closed fractures, but none in the control group (p = 0.489). Overall, there was no significant difference in the rate of complications between the diabetic patients and the control group, but there was a tendency for more severe infections in patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Royal Infirmary, Little France, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH164SU, UK. joeaderinto@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aderinto
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*