Lower infection rate after interlocking nailing in open fractures of femur and tibia

Between 1975 and 1987 91 patients with Types I and II open lower extremity fractures (66 tibia and 25 femur) have been treated surgically with interlocking nailing at the I University Clinic of Traumatology, and the Trauma Department of Wilhelminenspital, Vienna. Our infection rate of 1.2% was found to be lower than figures cited in the literature. Conscientious indication of the interlocking nail in these circumstances cannot claim all the credit for these results, the appropriate preoperative management with preventive antibiotics together with excellent operative technique have to be taken into consideration as well. Reviewing these results, we have adopted the opinion that the interlocking nail, when selectively used in the hands of an expert, can be recommended not only in closed fractures but also in Types I and II open fractures of the femur and tibia, provided that the special principles of treatment in a particular case are not neglected.