The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 68, Issue 8 1231-1236, Copyright © 1986 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
Treatment of failures after plating of tibial fractures
RD Galpin, RG Veith and ST Hansen
Eighteen patients with tibial fractures treated by plating that had failed
were treated by intramedullary nailing. Nine patients had a broken plate or
screw that had pulled out. In seven, the plate and screws were intact but
no healing was evident, and in two patients the plate was intact but one or
more screws were broken. The plate and screws were removed from all
patients and immediate limited open intramedullary nailing was done with a
Kuntscher nail after the bone was reamed. In one patient the method failed,
while in fifteen patients the fracture united and in the two remaining
patients who could not be contacted union was thought to be in process when
they were last seen, five and ten months postoperatively. Two bone grafts
were used in one patient. Six fibular osteotomies were performed in
conjunction with the intramedullary nailing.