Comparison of plate and intramedullary nail fixation of extra-articular tibial fractures: A retrospective study exploring hidden blood loss

Purpose

To explore the hidden blood loss (HBL) in treatment of extra-articular tibial fractures with plate and intramedullary nail fixation.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study including 209 consecutive patients treated by plate (Group LCP) or intramedullary nail fixation (Group IMN) for extra-articular tibial fractures between January 2015 to December 2017. Demographics, intraoperative data, perioperative laboratory values, transfusion rate, and early complications were collected and analyzed.

Results

Of 209 patients, 96 patients fixed with IMN and 113 fixed with LCP. The average HBL was 272.71?±?57.88?ml in Group LCP and 507.66?±?109.81?ml in Group IMN, and there was statistical difference in the HBL between two groups (p?<?0.001). The Hb and Hct loss, surgical duration, and postoperative number of anemic patients in Group IMN were significantly higher than in Group LCP (p?<?0.001), and IMN fixation has a significantly higher rate of transfusion (p?=?0.027), whereas patients in group IMN has significantly less VBL (p?<?0.001), shorter postoperative hospital stay (p?<?0.001), and less superficial infection (p?=?0.014).

Conclusions

There was a significant amount of hidden blood loss after reamed intramedullary nail fixation for extra-articular tibial fractures, which was much higher than expected. In view of the morbidity of acute anaemia and transfusion, we suggest that for patients who suffer from extra-articular tibial fractures with multiple injuries, or those with low haemoglobin preoperatively, plates might be more suitable than nail fixation.