Summary
730 consecutive acute reamed intramedullary locked nailing of tibial fractures were studied, according to Gustilo’s classification of soft tissue lesions for the open fractures. There is a significant increase of post-operative infection rate if the tibial fracture is open, and the relative risk increases with the severity of soft tissue lesions. The comparison of these figures with those of other methods of treatment and the mechanical and clinical advantages of nailing leads us to propose this method for treatment of grade I, II and IIIa open fractures, while external the fixator seems better adapted for IIIb and c open fractures.
Résumé
Les auteurs ont étudié 730 enclouages centro-médullaires verrouillés avec alésage dans le traitement des fractures récentes du tibia, en tenant compte de la classification de Gustilo et Anderson. Ils ont trouvé une relation statistiquement significative entre le risque d’infection post-opératoire et la sévérité des lésions des parties molles. La comparaison entre l’enclouage verrouillé avec alésage, qui présente d’indiscutables avantages au plan mécanique et clinique, et les autres méthodes thérapeutiques, conduit les auteurs à proposer leur technique comme traitement de choix des fractures ouvertes de jambe de grade I, II et IIIa, tandis qu’il semble préférable d’utiliser la fixation externe pour les fractures ouvertes de grade IIIb et c.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alho A, Ekeland A, Stromsoe K, Folleras G, Thoresen BO (1990) Locked intramedullary nailing for displaced tibial shaft fractures. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 72-B: 805–809
Babin SR, Graf P, North J, Schvingt E (1981) Le risque septique de l’ostéosynthèse à foyer fermé d’après une série continue de 1059 enclouages selon G. Kuntscher. Intern Orthop 5: 271–276
Bach AW, Hansen HT (1989) Plate versus external fixation in severe open tibial shaft fractures. A randomized trial. Clin Orthop 241: 89–94
Behrens F, Searls K (1986) External fixation of the tibia. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 68-B: 246–254
Blachut PA, Meek RN, O’Brien PJ (1990) External fixation and delayed intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibial shaft. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 72-A: 729–735
Bone LB, Johnson KD (1986) Treatment of tibial fractures by reaming and intramedullary nailing. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 68-A: 877–887
Chapman MW, Mahoney M (1986) The role of early internal fixation of open fractures. Clin Orthop 212: 26–34
Clifford RP, Beauchamp CG, Kellam JF, Webb JK, Tile M (1988) Plate fixation of open fractures of the tibia. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 70-B: 644–648
Court-Brown CM, Christie J, McQueen MM (1990) Closed intramedullary tibial nailing. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 72-B: 605–611
Court-Brown CM, Keating JF, McQueen MM (1992) Infection after intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Incidence and protocol for management. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 74-B: 770–774
Edwards CC, Simmons SC, Browner BD, Weigel MC (1986) Severe open tibial fractures. Clin Orthop 230: 98–115
Gustilo RB, Anderson JT (1976) Prevention of infection in the treatment of 1.025 open fractures of long bones. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 58-A: 453–458
Gustilo RB, Mendoza RM, Williams DN (1984) Problems in the management of type III (severe) open fractures: a new classification of type III open fractures. J Traumatol 24: 742–746
Kempf I (1990) Enclouage centro-médullaire. Cahiers d’Enseignement de la Sofcot no 39. Expansion Scientifique Française, Paris
Mac Graw JM, Lim AVA (1988) Treatment of open tibial-shaft fractures. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 70-B: 900–911
Maurer DJ, Merkow RL, Gustilo RB (1989) Infection after intramedullary nailing of severe open tibial fractures initially treated with external fixation. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 71-A: 835–838
Melendez EM, Colon C (1989) Treatment of open tibial fractures with the Orthofix fixator. Clin Orthop 241: 224–230
Nesbakken A, Alho A, Bjersand AJ, Jensen DK, Stangeland L, Walloe A (1988) Open tibial fractures treated with the Hoffmann External Fixation. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 107: 248–252
Patzakis MJ, Wilkins J, Moore TM (1983) Considerations in reducing the infection rate in open tibial fractures. Clin Orthop 178: 36–41
Ramadier JO, Lecestre P, Camillieri A, Bombart M, Mazas F, Witvoet J, Zucman J (1981) Fractures ouvertes de jambe. Intern Orthop 5: 169–182
Ruedi T, Webb JK, Allgîwer K (1976) Experience with the dynamic compression plate (DCP) in 418 recent fractures of the tibial shaft. Injury 7: 252–259
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
European Bone and Joint Infection Society Meeting, München, Germany, October 7–9, 1993
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jenny, J.Y., Jenny, G. & Gaudias, J. The risk of post-operative infection after reamed intramedullary locked nailing of tibial fractures. A review of 730 cases. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 5, 79–82 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02716224
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02716224