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Compression nailing reduced healing time in patients with tibial fractures
Reamed nailing with compression on the fracture gap reduced healing time and increased the healing rate in patients with simple transverse tibial shaft fractures, according to this study.
Researchers examined 63 patients with AO-type 42-A3 or 42-B2 simple transverse tibial shaft fractures retrospectively between 2003 and 2008. They treated 25 patients with dynamic interlocking screws without compression and 38 patients received compression nails. They measured the compression load on X-ray and radiograph 4 weeks postoperatively and assessed healing time. Nonunion was defined as the lack of radiological union or persistent clinical symptoms.
Patients who received compression nails underwent compression at a mean load of 1,852 N. There were 19 open and 19 closed fractures in the compression group. There were 14 closed and 11 open fractures in the non-compression group.
The researchers noted 980 N of compression remained in the compression nail group at 4 weeks. The active compression reduced healing time and only one nonunion occurred in the compression group compared to three in the noncompression group.
Disclosure: Högel has no relevant fnancial disclosure.