[Treatment of tibial shaft fractures using plate osteosynthesis]

A retrospective study of 203 fractures of the tibial shaft, treated with ASIF-plate osteosynthesis between 1975 and 1986, revealed that the rate of osteitis and pseudarthrosis in closed and first-degree open fractures compares favourably with nationwide figures. The same applies to the duration of disability. Early treatment of osteitis, delayed union and pseudarthrosis in all cases led to complete recovery. Moving to modern hospital premises appears to have lowered the prevalence of infectious complications. Despite several negative prognostic factors, the results showed that ASIF-plate osteosynthesis if correctly performed on the right indication, is still the treatment of choice for a large group of patients with fractures of the tibial shaft.