Expert Tibial Nailing Vs Distal Tibial Plating in Patients with Distal Tibial Extra-articular Fractures

Abstract

Background: To compare tibial nailing with distal tibial plating in patients with tibial fractures. Subjects and Methods: 70 patients of extraarticular distal 1/3rd tibia fractures were divided into 2 groups of 35 patients each. Group I were treated with expert tibial nailing and group II with distal tibial plating. Patients were followed up for 6 months after operation and evaluated as per Johner and Wruss Criteria. Other parameters such as operative time (minutes), union time (weeks), full weight bearing (weeks) and intraoperative blood loss (ml) was also recorded. Results: Group I comprised of 23 males and 12 females and group II 20 males and 15 females. The mean operative time was 84.2 minutes in group I and 102.6 minutes in group II, union time was 19.3 weeks in group I and 25.2 weeks in group II, post-operative full weight bearing time was 9.5 weeks in group I and 13.3 weeks in group II and intraoperative blood loss in group I was 53.4 ml and in group II was 88.4 ml. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Johner Wruss scoring system revealed outcome excellent in 22 in group I and 19 in group II, good in 5 and 7, fair in 8 and 5 and poor in 0 and 4 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Tibial interlocking nailing found to be better as compared to plating for the management of Distal Tibial Extra-articular Fractures.