title: Reliability of the radiographic union score for tibial fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the recently developed Radiographic Union Score for Tibial Fractures (RUST) scoring system and clinical outcomes in tibial fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 41 patients with tibia shaft fractures who underwent intramedullary nailing between 2005 and 2010. Mean follow-up period was 26.32 (range: 12 to 48) months. Clinical outcomes were measured using the Karlström-Olerud physical function scale, VAS score and SF-36 physical function and pain scores during follow-up. RUST scores were noted after radiological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RUST scores accurately reflected healing and union of the bone (p<0.05). RUST scoring also showed significant correlation with widely used physical and pain scoring systems (SF-36, VAS and Karlström-Olerud).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RUST scoring system appears to be a reliable tool for the evaluation of clinical outcomes in management of tibial fracture.
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül Univesity, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cekiç
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül Univesity, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alıcı
authors.affiliation: Dokuz Eylül Univesity, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yeşil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult