[Unreamed intramedullary nail or external fixator in complicated tibial fracture? A comparative analysis]

Sixty-seven fractures of the tibial shaft with concomitant soft tissue injury were managed at the "Bergmannsheil" Bochum, University Clinic between May 1, 1991 and March 31, 1993. 33 fractures underwent unreamed nailing whereas 34 fractures were stabilized with external skeletal fixation. There were 20 closed fractures with soft tissue compromise (13 types GII and 7 types GIII (Oestern/Tscherne classification)) and 25 compound fractures (8 grade I, 12 grade II and 27 grade III (Gustilo-Anderson classification)). The grade III open fractures were subdivided by the Gustilo-Mendoza-Williams classification (13 types IIIA, 10 types IIIB and 4 types IIIC). Sixty-five fractures have healed (1 amputation type IIIC, 1 patient died). The mean time to union was 28 weeks in the fixator group and 23.5 weeks in the unreamed nail group (statistically not significant, p < 0.095). Also the infection rate (1 case in each group), the fasciotomies due to compartment syndrome, the number of bone grafts, the number of device change and mesh grafts was not statistically significant in both groups. Only the number of performed flaps for wound coverage was statistically significant higher in the fixator group (p < 0.05). In the unreamed nailing population, breakage of the locking bolts occurred in 4 cases. In 3 cases secondary reamed nailing was necessary (2 delayed unions, 1 avulsion of distal bolts). Two fractures underwent dynamization by removal of the distal locking bolts 6 weeks post initial static nailing. The unreamed nail is a versatile implant for tibial shaft fractures with closed and open soft tissue compromise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)