Reamed Exchange Nailing in Nonunion of Tibial Shaft Fractures: A Review of the Current Evidence

One of the most dreaded complications of fracture management is a nonunion. Nonunions are usually difficult to manage and can be a source of significant mental, physical, and financial distress to the patient. The incidence of nonunion is dependent on multiple factors including degree of comminution, open versus closed, concomitant infection, and vascular status, and therefore the management of such nonunions continues to be an often debated topic. Currently, there is no clear consensus on the role of reamed exchange nailing for tibial shaft nonunions. While reamed exchange nailing for aseptic tibial shaft nonunions has shown promising results, with very high union rates, many surgeons prefer newer novel techniques such as plating along with osteoperiosteal decortication or the use of more conventional compressive plating with bone grafts. The aim of this article is to critically review and understand the available evidence base on reamed exchange nailing in nonunion of tibial shaft fractures and to explore the other options available and their indications.

Tuberculosis of the Tibial Plateau Mimicking a Giant Cell Tumor: A Case Report

Tuberculous osteomyelitis is infrequent and occurs most often in the femur, the tibia, and the small bonne of hands and feet. Herein, we report a 39-year-old female who presented with chronic pain and motion range reduction of the left knee joint for two years. A knee radiograph revealed a geographic lytic lesion of the epiphyseal and diaphyseal region of the tibia mimicking giant cell tumor (GCT). A minimally invasive biopsy of the lytic lesion was performed, and pathological assessment revealed granulomatous inflammation made of numerous caseating necrotizing epithelioid and giant cells granulomas, diagnostic of tibial plateau tuberculosis. This case underscores the importance of taking tuberculosis into consideration in lesions mimicking GCTs in the tibial plateau, especially in endemic regions.

Demographic Differences in the Surgical Management of Tibial Shaft Fractures: A Retrospective Study

Background Tibial shaft fractures (TSFs) are the most common long bone fractures in the United States and are associated with significant morbidity and the potential need for revision surgeries, with many patients requiring reoperation. This can have significant physical, mental, and financial impacts on patients. A major complication faced by patients with TSF is nonunion (TSFN). The mainstay of surgical management of TSF is Intramedullary Nail (IMN), with some patients also being treated with Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF). With the demographic makeup of the United States undergoing rapid change, a better understanding of patient characteristics of patients with TSF is useful to optimize patient care. This study aims to enhance our comprehension of the frequency and demographic variables associated with tibia fracture surgery and subsequent nonunion. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in August 2023, utilizing the TriNetX "Global Collaborative Network" database to form patient study cohorts. Data extracted included patient age, sex, ethnicity, race, smoking status, surgical management, and nonunion. Data was also extracted on specific surgical management utilized, comprising either IMN or ORIF. Results A total of 6,389 cases of TSFs were analyzed, with 65% (4,153) of patients undergoing ORIF compared to IMN (35%, or 2,236). The overall incidence of patients with TSF ORIF and IMN was highest among males and White patients. The incidence of patients with TSF ORIF was highest in the age groups of 40-64 and 64-90 years, while TSF IMN was highest in the age groups of 18-39 and 40-64 years. The overall rate of tibia nonunion among patients with a TSF ORIF was 4.6%, vs. 2.6% in patients who underwent IMN. Conclusion TSFs treated with IMN were found to have lower rates of nonunion compared to ORIF. IMN of TSF was more common in younger patients, while ORIF was more common in the older age groups. ORIF and IMN had similar rates of male-to-female utilization, indicating that both genders are being treated similarly with regard to the operative method of choice. White patients and those who were not Hispanic or Latino had much higher rates of both IMN and ORIF compared to all other racial groups, despite the increased complexity of fracture/injury characteristics and higher complication rates in minority patients.

Reconstruction of gap non-union tibia with composite use of extramedullary fixation and bone transport by monorail fixator: a prospective case series

Introduction

Non-union is a complex, multifactorial orthopaedic problem that requires multiple treatment modalities for its management. It can result from infection, segmental bone loss, soft-tissue loss, and associated host factors. External fixators as management of gap non-union are bulky and give rise to a number of complications In our study, we have described a technique where we have used extramedullary fixation in the form of a tibial locking plate and transportation of part of the tibial bone after corticotomy by a monorail fixator.

Materials and Methods

The procedure was done in two stages where internal and external fixation was done after creating a gap at the non-union site. The bone was transported after corticotomy and fixed to the internal fixation device in the second stage. The external fixator was removed in the second stage and the patient was then followed up till the bony union. The evaluation was done by functional and radiological assessment along with the complications noted with the described procedure.

Results

Ten patients were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 33 years. The mean age of the patients was 33.7 ± 11.32 years with a mean size of the defect was 4.8 ± 1.7 cm. At 30 weeks out of nine patients, three patients had excellent and six had good functional results on the Association of Surgeons for Application and Methodology of Ilizarov (ASAMI) scale. The composite Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score was 76.66 % at the end of 30 weeks of follow-up. The mean time of consolidation was 134.4 days, whereas the mean union time was 145 days from index surgery. Ankle stiffness was the most common complication affecting 50% of the patients. Following closely was pin tract infection, which was present in 40% of the patients. According to Paley's classification, there were 11 obstacles, two problems and none were true complications.

Conclusion

The integrated fixation is both safe and effective and has the advantage of early removal of the external fixator and a low complication rate as compared to use of a bulky conventional fixator alone. Moreover, it gives protection to the regenerated bone for a long period. So, this technique can be recommended for the management of segmental tibial defects.