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Published in: International Orthopaedics 6/2014

01-06-2014 | Original Paper

A new angle stable nailing concept for the treatment of distal tibia fractures

Authors: Sebastian Kuhn, Philipp Appelmann, Philip Pairon, Dorothea Mehler, Frank Hartmann, Pol M. Rommens

Published in: International Orthopaedics | Issue 6/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

Surgical treatment of distal tibial fractures demands a stable fracture fixation while minimizing the irritation to the soft tissues by approach and implant. Biomechanical studies have demonstrated superior performance for angular-stable locked nails over standard locked nails in distal tibial fractures. The experimental Retrograde Tibial Nail (RTN) is a minimally invasive local intramedullary osteosynthesis, which has been under design by our group. We conducted a biomechanical comparison in composite tibiae of the Retrograde Tibial Nail against the Expert Tibial Nail (Synthes®). Our hypothesis was that the RTN would provide equivalent biomechanical stability with respect to extra-axial compression, torsion and load to failure testing, in an extra-articular distal tibia fracture model.

Methods

Biomechanical composite bone testing was conducted in 14 biomechanical composite tibiae in an AO 43 A3 fracture model. In both groups, triple angle stable interlocking was performed in the distal fragment.

Results

Results show a statistically non-significant higher stability of the ETN during the axial loading tests. Torsional stability testing resulted in a statistically superior performance for the RTN (p = 0.018).
Destructive extra-axial compression resulted in failure of six ETN constructs, while all RTN specimens survived the maximal load.

Conclusions

The experimental Retrograde Tibial Nail provides the key features for the treatment of distal tibial fractures. It combines a minimally invasive local intramedullary osteosynthesis with the ability to securely fix the fracture by multiple angle stable locking options.
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Metadata
Title
A new angle stable nailing concept for the treatment of distal tibia fractures
Authors
Sebastian Kuhn
Philipp Appelmann
Philip Pairon
Dorothea Mehler
Frank Hartmann
Pol M. Rommens
Publication date
01-06-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Orthopaedics / Issue 6/2014
Print ISSN: 0341-2695
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5195
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-013-2267-9

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