The Frequency Of Tibial Shaft Fractures That Fail To Mend Properly Despite The Use Of Locking Plates. A Case Study Series

Syed Hamad Ali Shah Banori, Mushtaq Hussain , Asghar Khan , Shakir Ullah , Sajjad Ahmad And Salik Kashif

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fractures of the tibia often result from accidents and falls. Treatment for an open fracture Tibia is challenging for orthopaedic and plastic surgeons. Several treatment options are available for tibia fractures, including conservativeand surgical procedures. Locking plates are a successful therapeutic approach. However, they have problems, including nonunion.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the frequency of nonunion in tibial shaft locking plates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

All patients hospitalized in our department with tibial shaft fractures who consented to participate were included in this research. The context for Conducting a Case Study The study was conducted at the Department of Orthopedic DHQ Hospital Batkhala Pakistan. The Period of Study Sixty months (Aug 16, 2020 - Feb 15, 2021) It was determined that the fracture needed to be stabilized, and a locking compression plate was used. Patients were contacted frequently utilizing their contact information to lessen the risk of them not following up. The 24th-week visit for nonunion was conducted using X-rays of the tibia shaft Anteroposterior and lateral views as the final evaluation for the research. The patient was instructed to notify the hospital immediately if any complications emerged from the surgery. When returning to the surgical location for follow-up appointments, All surgical operations were subjected to periodic radiological and clinical evaluation.

RESULTS:

A total of 60 patients were included in this research. All patients underwent surgery using a locking compression plate. Of these, 8 had nonunion of the tibial fracture at 24 weeks follow-up. The incidence of nonunion was 13.3%.

CONCLUSION:

The study revealed that the incidence of nonunion in tibial shaft locking plates is 13.3%. This is an important finding for orthopaedic surgeons because it highlights the risks of locking plates for tibial shaft fractures. Further research is needed to identify risk factors and strategies to reduce the incidence of nonunion.

KEYWORDS: Nonunion, tibial shaft fracture, locking plates, case series study