Treatment of fractures of the tibial shaft with inter-fragmentary screws and external fixation.

In a prospective trial, 10 patients underwent inter-fragmentary screws and external fixation for unilateral tibial shaft fractures. Anatomical reduction was achieved in all cases and uncomplicated bone union occurred in nine patients with a mean time to union of 122 (SD 20) days. One patient had delayed union and the fracture malunited. A 20% pin tract sepsis rate was encountered. The high risk of infection, the demanding follow-up and availability of better methods, does not allow this technique to be recommended in the routine treatment of closed tibial diaphysial fractures.