Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)

  Abstract

  Background: The tibial diaphyseal fractures are the most common type of long

  bone fractures encountered by most orthopedic surgeons. In accordance with descriptive indices of tibia fractures on the basis of their location in the bone, distal tibia

  fractures have the second incidence of all tibia fractures after the middle tibia fractures.

  The purpose of the study was to assess the complications and treatment outcome

  of closed extra-articular distal tibia fracture.

  Methods: The results of the management for 76 patients with closed extra-articular

  distal tibia fracture by intramedullary nailing and plating were reviewed retrospectively.

  The variables included AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen)

  classification of tibia fracture, the mean duration of :::union:::, mal:::union:::, and

  non:::union:::.

  Results: Twenty seven and forty nine patients were treated by intramedullary

  (IM) nailing and plating respectively. The most common type of fractures was A1

  which was observed in twenty five patients. Initial :::union::: and non:::union::: occurred in

  sixty three and thirteen patients respectively. Eight patients had non:::union::: in plating

  group and five of twenty seven patients in IM nailing group. Eleven of twenty seven

  patients in IM nailing group suffered from mal:::union::: while only four patients in the

  other group had this complication.

  Conclusion: The plating Technique in comparison with IM nailing has a satisfactory

  functional outcome. The technique has a lower incidence of mal:::union::: and

  non:::union:::, and it should be recommended as a good treatment option for the management of extra-articular closed fracture of distal tibia.