ABSTRACT

Background: Tibia is the second largest bone of the body after femur and it is one of the principal load bearing bone.

Aim: To compare the outcome in patients with tibial shaft fracture treated by closed reduction and IL nail using manual traction versus modified NA fixator.

Study Design: Quasi experimental study.

Methodology: Present study was held in the department of orthopedic surgery, Nishtar, Multan Pakistan after ethical approval. In group-A IL tibial nailing was done using TM distractor while in group B manual traction was used. Various parameters like operative time, contact after fracture reduction, rotation of limb, limb length discrepancy and infection rate was studied between the two groups. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for quantitative variables. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for qualitative variables. Chi – square and independent sample t test were applied. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: In our study, the operative time was 79.50±17.73 minutes, in group A 75.90±19.23 minutes in group B 83.10±15.45 minutes (p=0.042). No mal rotation occurred in any case in both groups. There was no contact between major bone fragments in 16%, in group A 18% in group B 14% (p=0.786).

Conclusion: Present study concluded that TM distractor has similar outcome as compared to manual traction as there was no statistical difference in both groups in terms of contact after reduction, limb length discrepancy, radiological union and infection rate.

Keywords: Inter locking nail, Modified NA distractor, Tibial nail and TM distractor.