PURPOSETo compare the outcomes of closed reduction and expert tibial nailing (ETN) versus open reduction and plate and screw fixation in treating two segmental tibial fractures.

METHODSThis study included 53 cases of two segmental fractures of the tibial shaft. They were admitted to our department between March 2010 and June 2013 and treated respectively by closed reduction and ETN (ETN group, n=31) or open reduction fixation with plate and screws (PS group, n=22). The general data of two groups including gender, age, injury cause, fracture type, etc showed no significant difference (p>0.05). To compare the therapeutic effects between two groups, the intraoperative condition, post- operative function and related complications were investigated.

RESULTSAll the patients were successfully followed up. The period was 19.2 months for ETN group and 20.5 months for PS group. All the fractures in ETN group had union without complications such as malunion, infection, or osteofascial compartment syndrome; whereas there were 3 cases of superficial infection cured by repeated dressing change and 2 cases of delayed union in PS group. The total incidence of complication in PS group was 22.7% (5/22), much higher than that in ETN group (p<0.05). Moreover, ETN group showed a better result in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, postoperative weight bearing time and fracture union time. In ETN group, at one-year follow-up, Johner-Wruhs' criteria was adopted to assess the postoperative function, which was reported as excellent in 18 cases, good in 10 cases and fair in 3 cases in ETN group (100% excellent-good rate). While in PS group, the result was excellent in 10 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 2 cases (77.3% excellent-good rate). The comparison was insignificant (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with plate and screw fixation, ETN fixation has the advantages of fewer complications, shorter operation time, being less invasive, earlier postoperative rehabilitation and weight bearing, quicker fracture union and better functional recovery, thus being an effective way to treat two segmental tibial fractures.