Suprapatellar tibial nailing, why have we changed?

Endomedullary nailing using the infrapatellar approach (IP) is considered the gold standard for the treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures, however, it has been associated with greater difficulty in reduction and complications such as malalignment in procurvatum and anterior knee pain. The suprapatellar approach (SP) arises as an alternative to solve these aspects, also being associated with a shorter intraoperative time and a lower dose and fluoroscopy time.

Retrospective comparative study between a group of 22 fractures treated by SP approach and another of 30 fractures intervened by IP transtendinous approach. Perioperative variables were analyzed, as well as clinical, radiological, and functional aspects in outpatient visits at 3, 6 and 12 months.

No differences were found between groups in terms of intraoperative time, anemization, quality of reduction or complications during follow-up, among others. At 12 months, 12 (54.5%) SP cases and 16 (53.3%) IP presented anterior knee pain, without significant differences. In the evaluation scales, significant differences were recorded in the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) in favor of the SP technique 88.45 (76.44-91.1) vs. IP 69 (49.95-80) (p=.006), with no significant differences in other functional scales analyzed.

According to what has been described so far in the literature, the present study supports the tendency toward SP nailing by improving the functional results (IKDC) in the medium term compared to the traditional IP technique, without increasing complications. Likewise, surgeons perceive greater technical ease for reduction and simplicity in obtaining intraoperative radiological images.