The Use of Ender nails in Distal One-Third Fractures of Tibia

Yang, Seung Wook; Jeong, Hak Young; Kim, Young Ho; Shin, Young Cheol

Abstract

The distal one-third fractures of tibia have much difficulty in treatment due to enumerous complications such as skin necrosis, angular deformity and delayed union. As for using Ender nails in distal tibial fractures, the stability of fixation can be strengthened with fanning of the nails in distal fragments and using more than 3 nails and 1cm longer nail. Twenty-two patients having distal tibial fractures, were carried out Ender nailing at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Maryknoll Hospital from May 1989 to September 1992. The results were as follows; 1. The distal end of fracture line was situated from 3cm to 9cm above plafond, and the mean duration of radiological bony union was 14.9 weeks except one case of nonunion. 2. Mild angulation developed in two cases and complications such as nonunion, superficial infection and backing out of nail were noted, but it did not affect the results.