[Should one choose the nail or the plate in treating a leg fracture?]

The authors have analysed the results of 126 tibial fractures treated by blind nailing with reaming and 112 tibial fractures treated by plating. They noted 5 septic complications after nailing, after plating, one non-union after nailing and 12 after plating, 3 malunions after nailing and 2 after plating. The cases treated by nailing united earlier. The Authors conclude that nailing is a more fiable technique than plating, and that the only fractures which should be plated are those which are not fit for nailing.