Prevalence of Rotational Malalignment After Infrapatellar Versus Suprapatellar Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Shaft Fractures.

Background: Up to 30% of patients with a tibial shaft fracture sustain iatrogenic rotational malalignment (RM) after infrapatellar (IP) nailing. Although IP nailing remains the management of choice for most patients, suprapatellar (SP) nailing has been gaining popularity. It is currently unknown whether SP nailing can provide superior outcomes with regard to tibial RM. The aim of this study was to compare the differences in the prevalence of RM following IP versus SP nailing. Methods: This retrospective study included 253 patients with a unilateral, closed tibial shaft fracture treated with either an IP or SP approach between January 2009 and April 2023 in a Level-I trauma center. All patients underwent a postoperative, protocolized, bilateral computed tomography (CT) scan for RM assessment. Results: RM was observed in 30% and 33% of patients treated with IP and SP nailing, respectively. These results indicate no significant difference (p = 0.639) in the prevalence of RM between approaches. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in the distribution (p = 0.553) and direction of RM (p = 0.771) between the 2 approaches. With the IP and SP approaches, nailing of left-sided tibial shaft fractures resulted in predominantly internal RM (85% and 73%, respectively), while nailing of right-sided tibial shaft fractures resulted in predominantly external RM (90% and 80%, respectively). The intraobserver reliability for the CT measurements was 0.95. Conclusions: The prevalence of RM was not influenced by the entry point of tibial nailing (i.e., IP versus SP). Hence, the choice of surgical approach should rely on factors other than the risk of RM. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Rotational Malalignment After Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Shaft Fractures Is Predictable.

OBJECTIVES: Intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for most tibial shaft fractures (TSF). However, an iatrogenic pitfall may be rotational malalignment. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to determine predictors of rotational malalignment following intramedullary nailing of TSF. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Single level 1 trauma center. PATIENT SELECTION CRITERIA: Patients who had a unilateral intramedullary nailing for TSF with a low-dose bilateral postoperative CT to assess rotational malalignment. OUTCOME MEASURES AND COMPARISONS: Bivariable analysis followed by multivariable analysis was then undertaken to assess for any independent predictors, such as fracture type/sight, surgeon experience, and side of fracture, predictive of rotational malalignment. RESULTS: In total, 154 patients (71% male, median age 37 years) were included in this study. Thirty-nine percent of variability in postoperative rotational malalignment could be explained using a model including (increased) tibial torsion of the noninjured side (mean [38.9 degrees ± 9.02 degrees] considered normal tibial torsion), side of tibial fracture, and spiral-type tibial fracture (R2 = 0.39, P ≤ 0.001, F = 31.40). In this model, there was a negative linear association between degrees of torsion on the noninjured side and rotational malalignment (-0.45, P < 0.001)-as baseline torsion increased from mean by 1 degree, malrotation in the opposite direction of 0.54 degrees seen. Positive linear associations between right-sided TSF and rotational malalignment (8.59 P < 0.001) as well as spiral fractures and rotational malalignment (5.03, P < 0.01) were seen. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that baseline reduced (internal) tibial torsion of the noninjured limb, spiral fractures, and right-sided TSF are predictive of postoperative external rotational malalignment. Conversely, increased baseline (external) tibial torsion of the noninjured limb and left-sided TSF are predictive of postoperative internal rotational malalignment. Surgeons may use this regression model preoperatively to predict what sort of postoperative rotational difference their patient may be prone to. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Prevalence of Rotational Malalignment After Intramedullary Nailing of Tibial Shaft Fractures: Can We Reliably Use the Contralateral Uninjured Side as the Reference Standard?

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the treatment of choice for most tibial shaft fractures. However, an iatrogenic pitfall may be rotational malalignment. The aims of this retrospective analysis were to determine (1) the prevalence of rotational malalignment using postoperative computed tomography (CT) as the reference standard; (2) the average baseline tibial torsion of uninjured limbs; and (3) based on that normal torsion, whether the contralateral, uninjured limb can be reliably used as the reference standard. METHODS: The study included 154 patients (71% male and 29% female) with a median age of 37 years. All patients were treated for a unilateral tibial shaft fracture with an IM nail and underwent low-dose bilateral postoperative CT to assess rotational malalignment. RESULTS: More than one-third of the patients (n = 55; 36%) had postoperative rotational malalignment of ≥10°. Right-sided tibial shaft fractures were significantly more likely to display external rotational malalignment whereas left-sided fractures were predisposed to internal rotational malalignment. The uninjured right tibiae were an average of 4° more externally rotated than the left (mean rotation and standard deviation, 41.1° ± 8.0° [right] versus 37.0° ± 8.2° [left]; p < 0.01). Applying this 4° correction to our cohort not only reduced the prevalence of rotational malalignment (n = 45; 29%), it also equalized the distribution of internal and external rotational malalignment between the left and right tibiae. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a high prevalence of rotational malalignment following IM nailing of tibial shaft fractures (36%). There was a preexisting 4° left-right difference in tibial torsion, which sheds a different light on previous studies and current clinical practice and could have important implications for the diagnosis and management of tibial rotational malalignment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Incidence, Predictors, and Fracture Mapping of (Occult) Posterior Malleolar Fractures Associated With Tibial Shaft Fractures.

OBJECTIVES: To (1) evaluate the incidence of posterior malleolar fractures (PMFs) in patients with tibial shaft fractures (TSFs) using advanced imaging; (2) identify predictors for patients at risk of an (occult) PMF; and (3) describe PMF characteristics to guide "malleolus-first" fixation. DESIGN: Retrospective diagnostic imaging study. SETTING: Level-I trauma center. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-four patients treated with intramedullary nailing for TSFs who underwent low-dose postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans to assess (mal)rotational alignment. INTERVENTION: Analysis of advanced imaging for the presence of PMFs. Univariate and multivariate analyses to identify predictors. Qualitative analysis of PMFs by fracture mapping. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Incidence of PMFs in patients with TSFs as diagnosed on post-op CT scans; (2) independent predictors for the presence of PMFs; and (3) PMF patterns. RESULTS: One in five patients with a TSF has an associated PMF (22%), increasing to one-in-two in patients with simple spiral fractures (56%). In 25% of patients, these fractures were occult. Univariate analysis identified simple spiral and distal third TSFs, proximal third and spiral fibula fractures, and low-energy trauma as predictors for PMFs. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that distal third and simple spiral TSFs were the only independent predictors. Haraguchi type I is the pattern specific to PMFs associated with TSF. CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients presenting with a simple spiral TSF have an associated PMF. In one in four patients, these are occult. Additional preoperative CT scan imaging may be considered in patients presenting with simple spiral distal third TSFs, despite negative lateral radiographs, so that PMFs can be identified and managed with "malleolus-first" fixation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Diagnostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

High incidence of screw penetration in the proximal and distal tibiofibular joints after intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures-A prospective cohort and mapping study.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary-nails (IMN) are the treatment of choice for most tibial shaft fractures due to their minimally-invasive nature and non-demanding surgical technique. However, a potential iatrogenic pitfall is intra-articular interlocking screw positioning within the proximal (PTFJ) and distal (DTFJ) tibiofibular joints that may go unrecognized. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of intra-articular screw penetration of the PTFJ and DTFJs after interlocking of IMN for tibial fractures. INTERVENTION: Reamed IMN using modern techniques, including proximal interlocking via standard aiming jig and distal interlocking either freehand or using SureShot®. METHODS: Prospective series of 165 consecutive patients with a tibial shaft fracture managed with an IMN. Diagnosis and incidence of penetration of the PTFJ and DTFJ was assessed on protocolled low-dose postoperative CT-scans (standardized clinical practice for assessing rotational alignment). The degree of penetration of the TFJ's was graded as: Grade 1-slight breach of the tibial cortex; Grade 2-clear penetration of the tibial cortex with intra-articular screw tip; and Grade 3-penetration of both tibial- and fibular cortices with screw tip in fibula. RESULTS: Of the 165 tibial shaft fractures, using the AO/OTA classification, 69% were simple, 16% wedge and 15% complex fractures. Following IMN 42% of patients had intra-articular screw penetration of their PTFJ whilst 39% had penetration of their DTFJ. 66% of patients had penetration of either one- or both of their TFJs. The grading of PTFJ violation was distributed as follows: Grade 1 in 24 patients; Grade 2 in 26 patients and Grade 3 in 19 patients. DTFJ violation was graded as: Grade 1 in 21 patients; 40 patients had Grade 2 violation; and four patients had a Grade 3 penetration. CONCLUSIONS: This diagnostic imaging study reports a high rate of intra-articular screw penetration of the PTFJ and DTFJ after interlocking of IMN for tibia shaft fractures. A prospective cohort study is underway to evaluate its clinical significance. Changes to enable alteration in forced angle of interlocking screw trajectory and avoidance of the anteromedial to posterolateral locking screw may reduce the incidence of TJF violation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II - Diagnostic Imaging Study.