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

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.