[Intramedullary nailing through suprapatellar approach with semiextended position for the treatment of tibial fractures].

Objective: To explore clinical effects of intramedullary nailing through suprapatellar approach with semiextended position in treating tibial fractures.

Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, 23 patients with tibia fractures were treated with suprapatellar approach intramedullary nailing on knee semiextended position, including 18 males and 5 females, aged from 26 to 67 years old with an average age of (38.5±9.6) years old. Eight patients were tibial proximal fractures, 7 patients were tibial shaft fractures, 6 patients were tibial distal fractures and 2 patients were tibial segmental fractures. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, complications and fracture healing time were recorded. Range of motivation of knee joint between 3 days and 3 months after operation were compared, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to evaluate clinical effects.

Results: All patients were followed up from 8 to 19 months with an average of (12.3±7.6) months. Operation time was (55.3±5.1) min, intraoperative blood loss was (84.0±8.7) ml. No obvious complications occurred. All patients were achieved bony union at stageⅠ, fracture healing time ranged from 3 to 8 months with an average of (4.6±1.5) months. Flexion extension range of knee motion at 3 days after operation was (110.4±15.3)°, and increased to (123.7±16.5)° at 3 months after operation (=6.57, <0.001). Postoperative VAS at 3 days was (0.22±0.74) scores, and decreased to (0.04±0.20) scores at 3 months after operation (=1.09, >0.05). Postoperative HSS score at 6 months was 86.2± 11.5, and 19 got excellent result and 4 good.

Conclusion: Intramedullary nailing through suprapatellar approach with semiextended position in treating tibia fractureshas advantages of simple operation, less trauma for soft tissue, less pain, rapid recovery of function and less complication. It is especially suitable for patients with tibial multi-segment fracture and multiple fractures of ipsilateral lower limb for safety and simple.