The Treatment of Tibial Shaft Fractures By Use of Ender's nailing

Kim, Seog Hyeon; Shim, Chul Hwan

Abstract

Fracture of the tibial shaft is the most common fracture of the long bones, and due to its frequency, mode of injury and sometimes type of treatment, has become a major source of permanent and temporary disability. The treatment of fractures of the tinial shaft has become one of the most controversial subjects in orthopedic surgery. Recently flexible intramedullary nails have been used successfully in treatment of fractures of the tibial shaft. In this paper we are reporting our experience with the method in 29 selected fractures of the tibia in 28 patients. The results were as follows. l. Of 29 cases, 19 cases were male and 10 cases were female. The average age was 33.4 years and the most common cause of injury was traffic accident. 2. Seventeen cases were closed fractures and twelve cases were open fractures. Nineteen cases were comminuted fracture. The most common level of the fracture was middle third of the tinial shaft. 3. Average interval from injury to Ender nailing was 10.3 days and the mean duration of permmit to full weight bearing was 9.8 weeks. 4. The mean duration of clinical bone union was 10.2 weeks and that of roentgenological bone union was 17.8 weeks. 5. 9 cases of complication were noted among the 29 cases of tibial shaft fracture which was treated by Ender nsiling such as angulation, ankle joint stiffness, and one case of delayed union. 6. Ender nailing are relative ease of nailing, allow early weight bearing and decrease complication. So Ender nailing is considered to be a good methods in treating tibial shaft fracture.