Expert Tibia Nail for the Treatment of Distal Tibial Fractures

Shen Songpo; Qiang Hua; Zhao Erhong

Abstract：Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of distal tibial fractures treated by AO Expert Tibia Nail(ETN;Synthes GmbH,Switzerland). Methods 17 cases of distal tibial fractures from Feb. 2012 to Feb. 2014 were admitted,which had 11 male and 6 female,with a mean age of 34. 2(from 20 ~ 57)years old,including 10 closed fractures,7 open fractures(5 Gustilo type Ⅰ,2 Gustilo type Ⅱ). All the fractures were close reducted and intramedullary fixed with AO Expert Tibial Nail, the duration of surgery,bleeding volume,time of clinical heal of the fracture were analysed,we also analysed the duration of surgery,bleeding volume and complications of the removal surgery. Functional outcomes were evaluated according to Johner-Wruhs criteria. Results All patients obtained a mean follow-up of 18 months(from 12 ~ 24 months). Till 6 months after sur-gery,All fractures clinically healed according to the X-Ray films. Anatomic or functional reduction was achieved and main-tained in all cases. The mean time of surgery was 62 mins(38 ~ 94 mins),the intraoperative bleeding volume was 47 mL(35 ~80 mL). By Johner-Wruhs criteria,the final outcomes were excellent in 16 cases,good in 1 case,the rate of excellent & good was 100% . No infection,nail breakage and malunion or nonunion occurred. Till this article finished,8 cases had their ETN re-moved,the nails were easy-removal,the mean duration of surgery was 43 mins(27 ~ 60 mins),the trauma of the removal sur-gery had no difference to the implant surgery. Conclusion Expert tibia nail(ETN)is a reliable fixation solution for distal tibi-al fractures,with the advantages of minimally invasive trauma,simple operation,less duration of surgery,less bleeding in opera-tion,rigid fixation,fewer complications and easy-removal.