Obremskey W, et al. J Orthop Trauma. 2016;doi:10.1097/BOT.0000000000000475.

Obremskey W, et al. J Orthop Trauma. 2016;doi:10.1097/BOT.0000000000000475.

One year after treatment of a tibia fracture using an infrapatellar intramedullary nail, 11% of patients experienced clinically significant knee pain, according to results.

Researchers recorded demographic information, comorbid conditions, injury characteristics and the surgical technique used for 437 patients with an isolated tibia fracture treated with an infrapatellar intramedullary nail.

At 12 months, results showed 11% of patients had a “good deal” or “very great deal” of knee pain compared with 51% of patients who reported “no” or “very little” knee pain. Researchers noted a consistent decrease in the number of patients with perceived pain from 3 months to 12 months. According to results, 26% of patients were unable to kneel at 12 months and 29% of patients were unable to run. Researchers found 31% of patients said they were able to climb stairs with difficulty or were unable to climb stairs, and 35% of patients noted they were unable to walk prolonged or did so with difficulty. Multivariate regression analysis results showed patients who currently smoked, had a comminuted fracture pattern and had a surgeon with fewer than 5 years of experience were at risk for increased knee pain. – by Casey Tingle

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

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