Necessity for fibular fixation associated with distal tibia fractures
Benjamin C Taylor1, Brandi R Hartley1, Nathan Formaini1
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Grant Medical Center, 285 East State Street, Suite 500, Columbus, OH 43215, USA.
Injury
|October 20, 2015
Summary
For distal third tibia fractures treated with intramedullary nailing, adding fibula fixation does not improve alignment outcomes. No significant differences in malalignment or infection were observed between groups.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Intramedullary (IM) nailing is standard for distal third tibia fractures with fibula injury.
- The necessity of operative fibula stabilization in these cases is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of fibular fixation on alignment in distal third tibia fractures treated with IM nailing.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 98 patients with non-comminuted distal third tibia fractures.
- Comparison of outcomes between patients with and without fibular fixation.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in coronal or sagittal plane alignment post-operatively or at follow-up.
- No statistically significant difference in malalignment between fixation groups.
- No deep infections reported in either group; screw removal was the most common reason for reoperation.
Conclusions:
- Fibular fixation does not influence alignment maintenance in distal third tibia fractures treated with IM nailing.
- The addition of fibular fixation offers no significant advantage regarding alignment or infection rates.
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