MANAGEMENT OF TIBIAL NON-unio‎n USING REAMED INTERLOCKING INTRA-MEDULLARY NAILING

Background: Reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing of the tibia is a procedure for the treatment of a non-infected tibial nonunio‎n. The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the outcome of this method as a treatment of tibial nonunio‎n. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with nonunio‎n after initial therapy for tibial fracture were retrospectively assessed after a reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing. The main measurements were derived from radiographic and clinical unio‎n as well as time from reamed nailing to unio‎n. Results: Twenty-eight patients achieved unio‎n of their fracture (97%). The average time from reamed nailing to unio‎n was 7.6 months. Serious complications included one severe infection in the site of surgery (3%) and one tibial fracture distal to the nail (3%). Conclusion: Reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing for nonunio‎ns of the tibia resulted in a high unio‎n rate and was associated with a low complication rate. This technique is recommended as a standard procedure for non-infected tibial nonunio‎ns.