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