Prognostic indicators in tibial shaft fractures: serum creatinine kinase activity

Serum creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels were measured serially in 50 adults with closed tibial shaft fractures. CPK activity increased significantly after fracture (p less than 0.001). High energy and slowly healing fractures had significantly higher levels than low energy and normally healing fractures, respectively. Thus, CPK determinations could be used to assess the severity of trauma and possibly prognosis in tibial shaft fractures.