Intramedullary nailing in segmental tibial fractures.

Thirty-eight consecutive segmental fractures of the tibia were treated by intramedullary nailing with the Küntscher-Herzog nail. Twenty-two fractures were closed and sixteen were open. Reaming of the medullary cavity was performed and adequate fixation was ensured by use of a plaster cast. Weight-bearing was allowed after thirty-days for closed fractures and sixty days for open fractures. All of the closed fractures healed without malunion or infection. Of the patients with open fractures, one had an infection; one, non-union; and one, malunion. In all cases but one, union was slower at the distal fracture.