J Korean Fract Soc.  2002 Oct;15(4):483-488.

Screw breakage in tibial interlocking nailing

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea. hbinpark@nongae.gsnu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the causes of screw breakage in tibia nailing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between 1995 and 2000, eighty-two tibial diaphyseal fractures were treated with interlocking nails. The loss of follow-up was 7 cases. We retrospectively reviewed seventy-five cases. We investigated the rate and location of metal failure and evaluated the fracture pattern, the presence of distraction after nailing and union abnormality.
RESULTS
Screw breakage was identified in seven cases (9.3%) and most frequently occurred on the second proximal locking screw. Screw breakage occurred in AO type B or C type fractures, fracture site distraction after nailing, open fracture, delayed union and nonunion.
CONCLUSION
The main cause of screw breakage is unstable bone to bone contact on the fracture site caused by comminution or distraction. The open fracture, delayed union, and nonunion also contributing factors for screw breakage. For preventing screw breakage, it is necessary to avoid fracture site distraction and delay full weight bearing in cases having unstable fracture site contact.

Keyword

Tibia fracture; Intramedullary nailing; Screw breakage

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary
Fractures, Open
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Tibia
Weight-Bearing
Full Text Links
  • JKFS
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr