The clinical and radiological assessment of biplanar and uniplanar distal locking screw in tibia interlocking nail

Abstract

Background: The clinical and radiological assessment of biplanar (two coronal and one sagittal) and uniplanar (only two coronal) distal locking screw in tibia interlocking nailing. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one patients who had tibial shaft treated with intramedullary nailing were included in this study. Out of 51, 26 fractures were treated with uniplanar two distal interlocking (Group 1) and 25 fractures were treated with biplanar three distal interlocking (Group 2). Patients with closed fractures shaft of tibia treated by closed nailing were included. Fracture unions were evaluated clinically and radiologically. Results: Union time was shorter in biplanar (two coronal and one sagittal) distal interlocking group (Group 2) compared to uniplanar (only two coronal) distal interlocking group (Group 1). Mean union time in Groups 1 and 2 were 9.34 and 5.16 months, respectively. Conclusion: Biplanar (two coronal and one sagittal) distal interlocking procedure had a significantly shorter union time. Clinically, an average of 5–10' of external rotation of the leg was observed in Group 1, whereas 0–3' of external rotation of the leg was observed in Group 2 patients. Biplanar distal interlocking had more fracture union, probably because of a more stable fixation.