Authors: Ferhat Say Murat Bülbül
Publish Date: 2014/08/07
Volume: 134, Issue: 10, Pages: 1381-1386
Abstract
Rotational malalignment following closed intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures does not attract attention but is a complication which may lead to serious results This study aimed to present findings related to rotational malalignment from rotational alignment measurements made clinically and with computerised tomography CT in patients who had undergone locked intramedullary nailing for tibial fractureA total of 26 patients male/female 23/3 were evaluated after application of reamed locking intramedullary nailing to a diagnosed tibial shaft fracture The mean age was determined as 375 ± 156 years Rotational alignment was measured in both lower extremities clinically as thighfoot angle TFA and radiologically with CT Rotational malalignment was accepted as a more than 10º difference between the two lower extremitiesMalrotation was determined at more than 10º from TFA in two 7 of 26 patients and from CT in five 19 of 26 patients In three of them the malrotation was 15º Of the patients determined with malrotation with CT it was determined from clinical measurements in 40 The mean rotational difference was determined as greater with CT measurement 47° ± 95 compared to the TFA 11° ± 56 p 0001 No statistically significant relationship was determined between a rotational difference over 10º and the AO fracture type fracture location and fibula fixationA significant number of patients treated with intramedullary nailing for a tibial fracture may result in rotational malalignment To determine rotational malalignment a thorough clinical evaluation must be made and different kinds of clinical measurements taken and when suspicions remain determination should be made by CT
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