NONREAMED LOCKING INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING FOR OPEN FRACTURES OF THE TIBIA

The use of nonreamed interlocking tibial nails in the management of op en fractures of the tibial shaft has gained wide acceptance, This tech nique has been reported to have reproducible good results with a low i ncidence of complications in Type I, Type II, and Type IIIA open tibia l shaft fractures, The use of nonreamed nails in Type IIIB fractures c ontinues to be a source of controversy. The treatment of 72 open fract ures of the tibial shaft with nonreamed interlocking intramedullary na iling is detailed, There were 27 Type I, 22 Type II, 11 Type IIIA, and 12 Type IIIB open tibial shaft fractures, There H-ere three (4.2 %) d eep infections; one Type II, one Type III,I, and one Type IIIB, Forty- nine fractures (68%) united by 6 months, all fractures had united by 1 2 months, The use of nonreamed locking intramedullary nailing in Types I, III IIIA, and IIIB open fractures of the tibial shaft is supported .