Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibia

We treated 36 open tibial fractures (32 patients) by primary intramedullary nailing and debridement and treatment of open wounds. There were 13 grade I, 14 grade II and 9 grade III according to Gustilo-Anderson classification. After a minimum follow-up of 8 months, there were two cases of superficial infection and one of deep infection. Thirty-one fractures united within 6 months with a mean period to union of 22 weeks. There were four delayed unions and one non-union. There was a longer union time and a higher rate of delayed or non-union in the complex and/or comminuted grade IIIB fractures. Intramedullary nailing, with appropriate soft-tissue treatment, gives good results in the treatment of open tibial fractures.