Comparison between Two Methods of Intramedullary Nailing and Plating in the Treatment of Closed Noncomminuted Diaphyseal Tibia Fracture with Intact Fibula

The aim of the present study was to compare two methods of plating and intramedullary nailing in treatmant of closed noncomminuted tibia fractures with intact fibulae. Utimately 69 patients were followed for at least one year. The patients were randomly devided into two groups of plating and intramedullary nailing and operated on. One case of nonunion and one case of superficial infection occurred in the intramedullary group. One of the patients in the intramedullary group developed late deep infection in the screws location (in both cases p>.05). In both of the groups the tibia fractures reached union in about 4 months, though the intramedulary group had underwent more operations for union achievement (dynamization in 4, 12.1%, p≥.05). The need for implant removal was not statistically significant in the two groups (p≥.05). Of the other variables, the diffence between the two groups was statistically significant only with regard to their complaints of the limb and the number of individuals with knee pain (p<.001). It seems that both methods are suitable for closed noncomminuted isolated tibia fractures, but the patients with intramedullary nails, probably will need more operations to achieve union and probably will have more complaint of limb pain.