Suprapatellar vs. Infrapatellar Intramedullary Nailing for the Treatment of Distal and Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures: Comparative Analysis and Surgical Technique

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Lionel Llano
María Liliana Soruco
De Cicco Franco Luis
Danilo Taype Zamboni
Carlos F. Sancineto
Guido S. Carabelli

Abstract

Introduction: Fractures of the medial and distal tibial segment often occur in young patients with high-energy trauma and older patients with low-energy trauma. The objective of this study is to compare the time of surgery, time of use of fluoroscopy, functional outcomes, and postoperative pain in patients treated with the suprapatellar vs. infrapatellar technique for tibial nailing.
Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective study between March 2018 and October 2019. All the data was collected from the electronic clinical record (ECR). We included patients with diaphyseal and distal tibial fractures. The variables analyzed were: fluoroscopy and surgery time, pain evaluation, and functional outcomes of the patients using the Lysholm score.
Results: 80 patients met all the inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic data were divided into 2 similar groups. The suprapatellar approach was used in 44 patients and the infrapatellar in 36 of them. A statistical difference was obtained in the analysis for the time of surgery, use of fluoroscopy, and pain evaluation in favor of the suprapatellar technique.
Conclusions: The results of our study showed shorter surgery and fluoroscopy times with the use of the suprapatellar technique compared with the infrapatellar technique. The suprapatellar technique also yielded better pain results in the visual analog scale.

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How to Cite
Llano, L., Soruco, M. L., Franco Luis, D. C., Taype Zamboni, D., Sancineto, C. F., & Carabelli, G. S. (2022). Suprapatellar vs. Infrapatellar Intramedullary Nailing for the Treatment of Distal and Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures: Comparative Analysis and Surgical Technique. Revista De La Asociación Argentina De Ortopedia Y Traumatología, 87(2), 182-187. https://doi.org/10.15417/issn.1852-7434.2022.87.2.1418
Section
Clinical Research
Author Biographies

Lionel Llano, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

María Liliana Soruco, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

De Cicco Franco Luis, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Danilo Taype Zamboni, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Carlos F. Sancineto, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Guido S. Carabelli, Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

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