Treatment of failures after plating of tibial fractures

Eighteen patients with tibial fractures treated by plating that had failed were treated by intramedullary nailing. Nine patients had a broken plate or screw that had pulled out. In seven, the plate and screws were intact but no healing was evident, and in two patients the plate was intact but one or more screws were broken. The plate and screws were removed from all patients and immediate limited open intramedullary nailing was done with a Küntscher nail after the bone was reamed. In one patient the method failed, while in fifteen patients the fracture united and in the two remaining patients who could not be contacted union was thought to be in process when they were last seen, five and ten months postoperatively. Two bone grafts were used in one patient. Six fibular osteotomies were performed in conjunction with the intramedullary nailing.