Single incision pediatric flexible intramedullary tibial nailing.

BACKGROUND: There has been a trend towards flexible intramedullary nailing for unstable tibial shaft fractures in the pediatric population, traditionally, utilizing a 2-incision technique with passage of one nail medially and one nail laterally. Our study aims to compare a single incision approach for flexible nailing of unstable tibial shaft fractures in pediatric patients to the traditional 2-incision approach.

METHODS: Patients were selected for operative fixation if they had a length unstable tibial shaft fracture confirmed by fluoroscopy. Exclusion criteria included length stable tibial fractures that could undergo nonoperative treatment. Single incision technique utilized the medial incision only. Patients were monitored in the hospital for one postoperative day and followed up at 4 week, 8 week, and 12 week marks. Radiographic analysis was performed to evaluate for malunion or nonunion. Operative times, infection rates and complications were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS: All patients achieved complete fracture healing at the 12-week follow up. There were no delayed unions, nonunions or malunions in either treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS: Single medial incision for tibial flexible nails had equivalent outcomes with no difference in primary healing rate, malunion or nonunion rate when compared to the dual incision technique.