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Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibia

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Abstract

We treated 36 open tibial fractures (32 patients) by primary intramedullary nailing and debridement and treatment of open wounds. There were 13 grade I, 14 grade II and 9 grade III according to Gustilo-Anderson classification. After a minimum follow-up of 8 months, there were two cases of superficial infection and one of deep infection. Thirty-one fractures united within 6 months with a mean period to union of 22 weeks. There were four delayed unions and one non-union. There was a longer union time and a higher rate of delayed or non-union in the complex and/or comminuted grade IIIB fractures. Intramedullary nailing, with appropriate soft-tissue treatment, gives good results in the treatment of open tibial fractures.

Résumé

Nous avons traité 36 fractures ouvertes du tibia (32 malades) par enclouage centromédullaire et débridement des plaies. Il y avait 13 grades I, 14 grades II et 9 grades III selon la classification de Gustilo-Anderson. Après un minimum de suivi de 8 mois il y avait deux cas d’infection superficielle et un d’infection profonde. 31 fractures ont consolidé en moins de 6 mois avec un délai moyen de 22 semaines. Il y avait quatre retards de consolidation et une non—consolidation. Il y avait un délai de consolidation plus long et un taux plus élevé de consolidation retardé ou de non consolidation dans les fractures complexes et/ou comminutives de grade IIIB. L’enclouage centromédullaire avec traitement approprié des lésions des parties molles, donne de bons résultats dans le traitement des fractures tibiales ouvertes.

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Acknowledgement

SIGN (Surgical Implant Generation Network), founded by Dr. Lewis G. Zirkle, was created in 1999 as a humanitarian, non-profit corporation in Washington, USA with a goal to provide improved health care and proper orthopaedic treatment of fracture at little or no cost to people in need throughout the world. All implants and instruments were provided free of cost by SIGN, USA to our institution in Nepal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nepal Medical Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

    R. K. Shah, R. P. Singh & A. Dhakal

  2. University of California, Davis Medical Center, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3800, Sacramento, California, 95817, USA

    H. D. Moehring

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  1. R. K. Shah
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  2. H. D. Moehring
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  3. R. P. Singh
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  4. A. Dhakal
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Correspondence to H. D. Moehring.

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Statement on conflict of interest: No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

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Shah, R.K., Moehring, H.D., Singh, R.P. et al. Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibia. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 28, 163–166 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-003-0535-9

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