title: FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL EXTREMITY OF THE TIBIA TREATED WITH INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL OR BRIDGE PLATE: COMPARISON OF RADIATION EXPOSURE DURATION BETWEEN THE TWO METHODS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the duration of exposure to radiation among patients with fractures of the distal third of the tibia treated with an intramedullary nail or with a bridge plate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intramedullary nails were used for 33 fractures, and bridge plates were used for 41 fractures. In the nail group, according to the AO classification, 14 patients had type A fractures, 15 had type B and four had type C. Twelve patients had closed fractures and 21 had open fractures. In the plate group, 10 patients had type A fractures, 22 had type B and nine had type C. Twenty-seven patients had closed fractures and 14 had open fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the duration of exposure to radiation between the patients treated using a nail and those treated using a plate (p = 0.0001). The group treated using a nail had significantly greater exposure to radiation than did the group treated using a plate. Comparing the type of fracture (A, B or C), it was observed that there was no significant difference in the duration of exposure to radiation between the nail technique (p = 0.19) and the plate technique (p = 0.80).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fractures of the distal third of the tibia treated with an intramedullary nail present significantly greater exposure to radiation than do fractures treated with a bridge plate, independent of the fracture type.
authors.affiliation: PhD in Medicine from São Paulo Medical School, Federal University of Sao Paulo, and Head of the "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro José
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Labronici
authors.affiliation: Resident physicians in orthopedics and traumatology, "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Soares
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Lyra
authors.affiliation: Resident physicians in orthopedics and traumatology, "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ildeu Leite
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Resident physicians in orthopedics and traumatology, "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rolix
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Head of Department and Associate Professor of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Sergio
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Physician responsible for the Trauma Group, Hospital de Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Barbosa
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Toledo Lourenço
authors.affiliation: Physician responsible for the Shoulder Group, "Prof. Dr. Donato D'Angelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo José
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Labronici
keywords: Comparative study; Fracture fixation, intramedullary; Radiation exposure; Tibial fractures