Multidirectional locking nailing versus plating for distal tibial fractures: a prospective randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Orthopaedic doctors see many cases of distal tibial fractures every year. Our goal is to investigate and contrast the healing, functional, and complication rates of extra articular distal tibia fractures treated with multidirectional interlocking intramedullary nails and anterolateral locking compression plates. Materials and Methods: Our study utilized a sample size of 20 individuals who presented with distal tibial fractures. The age range of participants in the nail group was 33 to 55 years, whereas in the plating group, the age range was 27 to 60 years. The current investigation was carried out from August 2022 to July 2023 at the Department of Orthopaedics, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, utilizing both retrospective and prospective methodologies. Results: The average time for union in the multidirectional interlocking intramedullary group was found to be 4.5 months, but in the plating group, it was 6.4 months. This difference was statistically significant. Additionally, the mean duration for partial and full weight bearing in the nailing group was 4.2 weeks and 9.6 weeks, respectively, which exhibited a statistically significant reduction compared to 7.12 weeks and 13.42 weeks in the plating group. The interlocking group had reduced instances of implant discomfort, ankle stiffness, and infection in comparison to the plating group. Conclusion: Our research led us to conclude that closed intramedullary interlocking nailing is the treatment of choice for distal tibia fractures because it allows for early weight bearing, promotes early fracture union, and reduces implant-related complications. For distal tibiofibular fractures, intramedullary nailing or locking plate fixation is advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]