The unreamed tibial rod in open tibial fractures

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery
D Gill, A Hadlow

Abstract

Open tibial fractures may be managed surgically by either external fixation or the intramedullary rod. If a rod is used, the delayed removal of the locking screws has been advocated to enhance fracture healing. The aim of the present study was to report the results of closed unreamed locked tibial rods in open fractures and evaluate the effect of locking screw removal. Fifty-one patients with open tibial fractures were treated by debridement, intravenous antibiotics, soft-tissue coverage and closed, unreamed, locked intramedullary rods. Forty-six patients were available for review at an average of 13.7 months after surgery. Union occurred at a mean of 240 days (168.1-312.3 CI). Five (10.8%) patients required bone grafting (two required a bone graft alone, three with exchange rods). Deep infection occurred in three (6.5%) cases, and malunion occurred in seven (15.2%) cases. Locking screw failure occurred in five (11%) cases. There was no significant association between removal of the locking screws, injury type and time to union when comminution was controlled for (P = 0.54). These results compare favourably to other methods of treatment for open fractures and suggest that removal of locking screws does not alter the time to union.

References

Sep 1, 1992·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume·C M Court-BrownM M McQueen
Nov 1, 1991·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume·C M Court-BrownJ Christie
Jan 1, 1991·The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. British Volume·G J HooperI D Penny
Mar 1, 1994·The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons·M D Boynton, G J Schmeling

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 1, 2006·Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery·E HohmannT F Wiesniewski
May 6, 2014·Injury·Ioannis KtistakisPeter V Giannoudis

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Related Papers

International Orthopaedics
A García-LópezL López-Durán
The Orthopedic Clinics of North America
Bruce French, Paul Tornetta
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved