title: Clinical outcome of patients with isolated tibial shaft fractures treated with S.I.G.N interlock nails in terms of surgical site infection and radiological bone healing on follow up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical outcome of patients with isolated tibial shaft fractures treated with Surgical Implant Generation Network interlock nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  The observational study was conducted from January 2010 to October 2014 at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and comprised in-patient charts. The Surgical Implant Generation Network Fracture Care Online Database was also screened for patients' data to be included in the study. The dependent variables were surgical-site infection and radiographic callus formation (bone healing). Data was analysed using SPSS 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 80 patients in the study, 56(70%) were male and 24(30%) were female; the male-to-female ratio being 2.3:1. Overall, 64(80%) patients showed radiographic union and 3(3.75%) patients had surgical-site infection on follow-up after 12 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of isolated tibial shaft fractures with Surgical Implant Generation Network interlock nails showed good results in terms of infection and radiographic bone healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zain-Ur-Rehman
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad.
authors.forename: Rana Dawood
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ahmad Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Allied Hospital, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad.
authors.forename: Ajmal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasin
keywords: Tibial shaft fractures, SIGN nails, Surgical site infection.