Effect of Intramedullary Nail Internal Fixation of the Tibia by Suprapatellar Approach on Rehabilitation of Patients with Middle and Lower Tibial Fractures
GAO Yusheng
ZANG Yefeng
YAO Dawei
HUO Mingchang
YANG Shangsheng
DONG Zhiyong
Abstract：Objective To explore the effect of intramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via the suprapatellar approach in the treatment of middle and lower tibial fractures.Methods A total of 82 patients with middle and lower tibial fractures admitted to from January 2021 to June 2023 were selected and divided into the suprapatellar approach group(n=41)and the infrapatellar approach group(n=41)by random number table method.The suprapatellar approach group was treated with intramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via suprapatellar approach,and the infrapatellar approach group was treated with intramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via infrapatellar approach.Intraoperative blood loss,duration of surgical and fracture healing,postoperative complications and rehabilitation effects were compared,and Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores of patients at 3 weeks,5 weeks,and 8 weeks after surgery,and Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score(HSS)of the United States at 3 and 6 months after surgery were observed.Results Compared with the infrapatellar approach group,the suprapatellar approach group had less intraoperative blood loss and shorter duration of operation and fracture healing(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications and the excellent and good rate of rehabilitation between the two groups(P>0.05).At 3,5 and 8 weeks after the operation,the VAS scores of patients in the suprapatellar approach group were lower than those in the infrapatellar approach group(P<0.01).At 3 and 6 months after the operation,the HSS score in the suprapatellar approach group was higher than that in the infrapatellar approach group(P<0.01).Conclusion For the middle and lower tibial fracture,active surgical treatment is required.Compared with intramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via infrapatellar approach,intramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via suprapatellar approach has a shorter duration of operation,less blood loss,less injury,faster fracture healing and less postoperative pain,which can promote the recovery of limb function.
Keywords：middle and lower tibial fracturesintramedullary nail internal fixation of the tibia via suprapatellar approachcomplicationspainrehabilitation effectHospital for Special Surgery Knee Score
Publication Date：2025-08-13
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-26(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 63-66 )