FRACTURES OF THE DISTAL EXTREMITY OF THE TIBIA TREATED WITH INTRAMEDULLARY NAIL OR BRIDGE PLATE: COMPARISON OF RADIATION EXPOSURE DURATION BETWEEN THE TWO METHODS.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the duration of exposure to radiation among patients with fractures of the distal third of the tibia treated with an intramedullary nail or with a bridge plate.

METHODS

Intramedullary nails were used for 33 fractures, and bridge plates were used for 41 fractures. In the nail group, according to the AO classification, 14 patients had type A fractures, 15 had type B and four had type C. Twelve patients had closed fractures and 21 had open fractures. In the plate group, 10 patients had type A fractures, 22 had type B and nine had type C. Twenty-seven patients had closed fractures and 14 had open fractures.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in the duration of exposure to radiation between the patients treated using a nail and those treated using a plate (p = 0.0001). The group treated using a nail had significantly greater exposure to radiation than did the group treated using a plate. Comparing the type of fracture (A, B or C), it was observed that there was no significant difference in the duration of exposure to radiation between the nail technique (p = 0.19) and the plate technique (p = 0.80).

CONCLUSION

Fractures of the distal third of the tibia treated with an intramedullary nail present significantly greater exposure to radiation than do fractures treated with a bridge plate, independent of the fracture type.