Comparative study on functional and clinical outcomes of distal shaft of tibia fractures treated with suprapatellar and infrapatellar nailing

Abstract

Introduction: Suprapatellar (SP)-nailing versus infrapatellar (IP)-nailing for distal shaft tibia fractures and post-operative complications like anterior knee pain and sequelae such as malalignment, retropatellar chondropathy and infection, as well as physical functioning and quality of life were the primary objectives of this study. Methods: Department of Orthopaedics is conducting a study on this topic. Group A (16 cases) underwent Supra Patellar Nail Fixation, while Group B (14 cases) underwent Infra Patellar Nail Fixation in 30 patients with Distal Shaft of Tibia Fractures. Results: Analyses of the 30 patient study were performed. Anterior knee pain occurred in 25% of patients after SPN and in 35% of patients after IPN, with a 5% malalignment rate following SPN and a 25% malalignment rate following IPN. Complications such as infection and retro patellar chondropathy were not significantly different between the two groups, and neither was physical functionality or postoperative quality of life. Conclusions: Patients who underwent SPN (group A) had much lower malalignment rates than those who underwent IPN (group B), according to this study. In terms of infection rates, physical functioning, or overall health, this study found no significant difference. The surgeon's expertise should play a major role in determining the best course of action.