A technique for intramedullary nailing of proximal third tibia fractures.

Abstract

Twelve of 14 proximal third tibial shaft fractures were successfully treated with a new technique for intramedullary nailing of these fractures. The average anterior displacement was 3.0 mm (range 0-17). The average coronal plane alignment was 2.0 degrees valgus (range 2 degrees varus to 12 degrees valgus). There was one nonunion. The technique's success is dependent on neutralizing the primary factors causing malreduction: wide effective diameters of tibial nails, narrow diameter of the medial tibial metaphysis, and a posteriorly directed sagittal plane entrance angle.