The Learning Curve of Suprapatellar Nailing: Adoption Over Time Can Decrease Operative Time and Radiation Exposure

Objective: To determine whether suprapatellar nailing (SPN) over time can decrease operative time and radiation exposure when compared with infrapatellar nailing (IPN) of tibial shaft fractures. Design: Retrospective. Setting: Single, Level 1 trauma center. Patients: Extra-articular adult tibial shaft fractures treated with intramedullary nailing alone within a 7-year period. Intervention: Patients were treated with SPN or IPN techniques based on the discretion of the operating surgeon. Main Outcome Measurements: Operative time and radiation exposure. Results: Three hundred forty-one fractures (SPN: 177, IPN: 164) were included in the analysis. No differences in patient body mass index, sex, or open fracture incidence existed between the 2 groups. A significant difference in average operative time (IPN 130 minutes vs. SPN 110 minutes, P
Source: Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Original Article Source Type: research