Anterior Knee Pain after Intramedullary Tibial Nailing.
10.4055/jkoa.2009.44.1.61
- Author:
Kyung Taek KIM
1
;
Sung Keun SOHN
;
Min Soo KANG
;
Xin JIN
;
Chul Won LEE
;
Lih WANG
Author Information
1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dong-Eui Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tibial shaft fracture;
Intramedullary nailing;
Anterior knee pain
- MeSH:
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary;
Humans;
Incidence;
Knee;
Nails;
Patellar Ligament;
Tibial Fractures
- From:The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
2009;44(1):61-67
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: To document the incidence and analyze the causes of anterior knee pain following closed intramedullary nailing for tibial fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2005 and February 2007, 50 tibial fractures (48 patients) were treated using locked intramedullary nails. We examined the relationship between postoperative anterior knee pain and age, gender distribution, mechanism of injury, cause and type of fracture, method of patellar tendon incision, and position of the nails on radiography. Anterior knee pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the incidence of knee pain. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up period of 16 months (range 13-30 months), 23 cases (46%) had developed anterior knee pain. Knee pain was more common in woman (p=0.000), but there was no statistically significant difference with regard to age, cause or type of fracture, reaming or incision technique. If the knee apex distance was below -30 mm on radiological analysis, there was no statistically significant increase in postoperative knee pain (p=0.000). Nail removal resolved or improved the symptoms in 77% of patients with anterior knee pain. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, nail prominence correlated with increased knee pain. We believe surgeons can decrease the severity of knee pain after tibial nailing by burying the tip of the nail as reflected on lateral radiographs.
