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

• Published in: Revista brasileira de ortopedia (English ed.) 2010-03, Vol.45 (2), p.132-135
• Main Authors: Labronici, Pedro José, Lyra, Fábio Soares, Moreira, Ildeu Leite, Hoffmann, Rolix, Franco, José Sergio, de Toledo Lourenço, Paulo Roberto Barbosa, Labronici, Gustavo José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comparative study; Fracture fixation, intramedullary; Original; Radiation exposure; Tibial fractures
• ISSN: 2255-4971; 2255-4971
• DOI: 10.1016/S2255-4971(15)30281-0

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.