West African journal of medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of unreamed interlocking nail and external fixation in open tibia shaft fracture management.
The management of open tibia fractures remains controversial despite increase in its incidence. Some surgeons avoid internal fixations for fear of infection while others have demonstrated its superiority. Identifying an optimal management modality is of utmost benefit to our patients. Study objectives were to compare the rate of infection and mean duration to healing in the management of open tibia fractures using unreamed interlocking intramedullary nail and external fixation. ⋯ The risk of wound infection was observed to be higher in this study with the use of external fixation in the management of open tibia fractures compared with unreamed interlocking intramedullary nail.