Nonunion of the tibia treated with a reamed intramedullary nail

Forty-seven tibial nonunions were treated with a reamed intramedullary nail. Initially, there were 14 (30%) closed and 33 (70%) open tibial fractures. The initial fracture management consisted of casts in 12 (26%) patients, Ender or Lottes nails in nine (19%), and external fixation in 26 (55%). The time from injury to nailing averaged 31.5 weeks. All but one fracture was nailed using a closed technique (98%). Twenty-six patients were initially managed with external fixation. Duration of fixation averaged 11 weeks, and the time from fixator removal to nailing averaged 24 weeks. Patients were followed for an average of 18.7 months after nailing. Forty-two of the 47 (89%) nonunions united uneventfully. Infection developed in six (13%) patients, five of which occurred in previously open fractures treated with external fixation. After one or more procedures, these nonunions consolidated without apparent infection. Reamed intramedullary nailing is a safe and effective method of treatment for tibial nonunions of previously closed fractures and prior open fractures that have been treated with Ender or Lottes nails. Because of the risk of infection, we do not recommend its use after external fixation of open fractures.