[Value of the surgical approach through the patellar tendon for intramedullary nailing of the tibia and the femur].

The goal of this study was to propose a new approach of the upper tibia for intramedullary nailing. Since two years, the authors performed a transversal skin incision superior to the distal end of the patella. The patellar tendon is dissociated and the tibia is perforated through the anterior intercondylar area. The advantages of this approach versus classical techniques are discussed. This approach allows isolated tibial or femoral nailing but also both nailings during the same procedure.