The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 57, Issue 7 909-915, Copyright © 1975 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Intramedullary nailing in the treatment of open fractures of the tibia and fibula
FJ Harvey, AH Hodgkinson and PM Harvey
Intramedullary nailing of thirty acute displaced open fractures of the
tibia and fibula resulted in union with only one superficial infection. The
low incidence of sepsis is attributed to the use of the curved malleable
Hodgkinson tibial nail which requires no reaming, renders the operation
less difficult and traumatic, and interferes minimally with bone
vascularity. Fibular nailing was an effective means of stabilizing nine of
the twelve fractures close to the ankle joint.