External fixation versus locked intramedullary nailing in tibial shaft fractures: a prospective, randomised study of 78 patients.

Introduction: We performed a prospective, randomised study to compare the Ex-fi-re external fixator (EF) with locked intramedullary (IM) nailing in tibial fractures. Only fractures without soft-tissue problems of importance were included.

Materials And Methods: Ex-fi-re is a unilateral, dynamic axial fixator with fracture reduction capabilities.