The Use of Ender Nails in Treatment of the Tibial Shaft Fractures

Shin, Duk Seop; Kim, Sae Dong; Ihn, Joo Chul

Abstract

Fractures of the tibial shaft are the most common among the long bone fractures, and have much difficulty in treatment due to their enumerous complications. 21 patients with fracture of the tibial shaft were treated with Ender nails under the image intensifier at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital from December 1986 to September 1988. The result was sumarized as follows :1. The average age was 37.3 and the number of male was three times of the female. The most common cause was traffic accident. 2. 14 cases out of 22 were closed fracture and the remsining 5 were open. The comminuted and segmental fractures were 17(77.3%) and the most common fracture site was middle one third. 3. Aversge interval from injury to operation was 6.5 days and in 15 cases show the associated injurues. 4. The mean duration of the bone union was 17.6 weeks and in 2 cases show the delayd union. 5. 10 complications were noted such as shortening, varus deformity, delayed union, ankle motion limitation, nail irritation, and soft tissue infection.