Type III Open Tibia Fractures Treated With Single-Stage Immediate Medullary Nailing and Attempted Primary Closure Yield Low Rates of Flap Coverage

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether type III open high-energy tibia fractures treated with immediate intramedullary nailing (IMN) and primary closure yield low rates of flap coverage.

Methods: Patients with high-energy type IIIA open tibia (OTA/AO42/43) fractures treated with IMN over a 10-year period at a level 1 academic center with at least 90 days of in-person postoperative follow-up were included. Single-stage reamed IMN with acute primary skin closure using Allgower-Donati suture technique was utilized in patients without notable skin loss. The primary outcome was treatment failure of acute primary skin closure requiring subsequent soft-tissue coverage procedures.

Results: A total of 111 patients with type IIIA tibia fractures met inclusion criteria. Of 107 of the 111 patients (96%) with skin closure at the index surgery, 95 of the 107 patients (89%) healed their soft-tissue envelop uneventfully. Among the patients who failed primary closure (11%), five required free tissue transfers, five required local rotational flaps, and two underwent split thickness skin grafting only. Patients who failed acute primary closure declared within an average of 8 weeks postoperatively.

Discussion: Treatment of type IIIA open high-energy tibia fractures with immediate IMN and primary closure using meticulous soft-tissue handling yields low rates of flap coverage.