ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2024
Retrograde tibial intramedullary nail versus minimally invasive locking plate for extra-articular distal tibial fractures: a comparative and retrospective study.
Article in Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Surgical outcomes and complications of fixation strategies for distal tibial fractures: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026Pooled it
- [Study on occurrence of anterior ankle pain after distal tibial extra-articular fractures treated with retrograde tibial intramedullary nail].Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chinese journal of reparative and reconstructive surgery · 2026Article
- Comparison of retrograde vs. antegrade intramedullary nailing for extra-articular distal tibial fracture: a retrospective matched case-control study.Frontiers in surgery · 2026Article
- Preliminary retrospective analysis of combined retrograde tibial intramedullary nail and lateral less invasive stabilization system for distal femoral fractures.The Journal of international medical research · 2025Article
- Retrograde tibial intramedullary nailing for distal tibial fractures: outcomes and complications.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Comparison of Three Internal Fixation Constructs for AO/OTA 33-A3 Distal Femoral Fractures: A Biomechanical Study.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
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6 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundDistal tibial fractures represent common lower limb injuries, frequently accompanied by significant soft tissue damage. The optimal surgical approach for managing these fractures remains a topic of considerable debate. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of the outcomes associated with retrograde intramedullary tibial nails (RTN) and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) in the context of treating extra-articular distal tibial fractures.
methodsA retrospective review was conducted on a cohort of 48 patients who sustained extra-articular distal tibial fractures between December 2019 and December 2021. Patients underwent either RTN or MIPO procedures. Various parameters, including operative duration, intraoperative fluoroscopy exposure, time to union, duration until full weight-bearing, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, and complications, were recorded and compared between the two treatment groups.
resultsNo statistically significant differences were observed in operative duration, time to union, angulation of the distal tibial coronal plane, or AOFAS scores between the RTN and MIPO groups. However, the RTN group had a higher average number of intraoperative fluoroscopy images (8.2 ± 2.3) compared to the MIPO group (4.1 ± 2.0). The RTN group demonstrated shorter average hospital stays (7.1 ± 1.4 days) and a quicker return to full weight-bearing (9.9 ± 1.3 weeks), which were significantly superior to the MIPO group (9.0 ± 2.0 days and 11.5 ± 1.5 weeks, respectively). In terms of complications, the RTN group had one case of superficial infection, whereas the MIPO group exhibited two cases of delayed union and nonunion, two occurrences of deep infection, and an additional three cases of superficial infection.
conclusionsBoth RTN and MIPO are effective treatment options for extra-articular distal tibial fractures. However, RTN may offer superior outcomes in terms of decreased inpatient needs, faster return to full weight-bearing capacity, and a lower rate of complications.
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