Locked Plating versus Nailing for Proximal Tibia Fractures: A Multicenter RCT

The main 2 forms of treatment for extraarticular proximal tibial fractures are intramedullary nailing (IMN) and locked lateral plating (LLP). The goal of this multicenter, randomized controlled trial was to determine whether there are significant differences in outcomes between these forms of treatment.

Multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

16 academic trauma centers.

108 patients were enrolled. 99 patients were followed for 12 months. 52 patients were randomized to IMN, and 47 patients were randomized to LLP.

IMN or lateral locked plating.

Functional scoring including Short Musculoskeletal Functional Assessment, Bother Index, EQ-5Dindex and EQ-5DVAS. Secondary measures included alignment, operative time, range of motion, union rate, pain, walking ability, ability to manage stairs, need for ambulatory aid and number, and complications.

Functional testing demonstrated no difference between the groups, but both groups were still significantly affected 12 months postinjury. Similarly, there was no difference in time of surgery, alignment, nonunion, pain, walking ability, ability to manage stairs, need for ambulatory support, or complications.

Both IMN and LLP provide for similar outcomes after these fractures. Patients continue to improve over the course of the year after injury but remain impaired even 1 year later.

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.