External Fixation Vs Intramedullary Nailing For Open Tibial Fractures: A Meta-Analysis .
External fixation versus intramedullary nailing for the management of open tibial fracture: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Int Orthop . 2023 Dec;47(12):3077-3097.Six randomized controlled trials including 407 patients with open tibial fractures were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing external fixation (EF) versus unreamed tibial intramedullary nailing (UTN). Pooled outcomes of interest included postoperative superficial and deep infections, malunion, delayed union, nonunion, and hardware failure. UTN significantly reduced the rates of superficial infection and malunion compared to EF, while both treatments showed similar effectiveness for deep infections, delayed union, and nonunion. EF, however, resulted in fewer hardware failures. This analysis suggests that UTN might be preferred for managing open tibial fractures, with careful monitoring of postoperative weight-bearing to prevent hardware failure.
Unlock the Full ACE Report
You have access to 4 more FREE articles this month.
Click below to unlock and view this ACE Reports
Unlock Now
Critical appraisals of the latest, high-impact randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews in orthopaedics
Access to OrthoEvidence podcast content, including collaborations with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, interviews with internationally recognized surgeons, and roundtable discussions on orthopaedic news and topics
Subscription to The Pulse, a twice-weekly evidence-based newsletter designed to help you make better clinical decisions
Exclusive access to original content articles, including in-house systematic reviews, and articles on health research methods and hot orthopaedic topics
Or upgrade today and gain access to all OrthoEvidencecontent for as little as $1.99 per week.
Already have an account? Log in
0 of 4 monthly FREE articles unlocked
