Clinical Study on the treatment of the Tibial Shaft Fractures in Adults

Shin, Byong Joon

Abstract

226 adult patients (235 fractures) with fractures of the shaft of the tibia were treated at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soon Chun Hyang College Hospital during the 6 and a half years from January 1975 to June 1981. These were analysed according to the methods of treatment and the results were categorized by the level, type, severity and whether open or closed in an attempt to seek the most suitable method of treatment. The following observations were made: l. Of the 226 cases, nine were bilateral, the total number of fractures being 235. Of these, 173 (73.6%) were treated conservatively, 26 (11.1%) by plate and screw fixation and the remaining 36 (15.3%) by in- tramedullary nailing. 2. There were no differences in the average healing time among the various levels of fractures. However, the upper one third and the lower one third healed more rapidly than the middle one third when treated con- servatively. When treated by intramedullary nailing, the middle one third healed most rapidly. 3. As to the types of freactures, spiral fractures healed most rapidly with 15.3 weeks and segmental fractures healed most slowly with 23.8 weeks. Transverse fractures and spiral fractures healed most rapidly when treated conservatively, oblique fractures healed most rapidly when treated by plate and screw fixation, segmental and comminuted fractures by intramedullary nailing. 4. The healing time was longer and complications were higher in open fractures than in closed ones. 5. Based on the modified Ellis classification of tibial fractures, the higher the severity, the longer the healing time and the lower the primary healing rate. 6. The primary intramedullary nailing group, which were treated within 24 hours of injury, was compared with the delayed intramedullary nailing group. The former showed faster healing and higher primary healing rate than the latter, while the infection rate was higher in the former.