COMPARISON OF INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING AND PLATING IN TIBIAL FRACTURES: IMPACT ON MOBILITY RECOVERY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v22i3.1934Keywords:
Early mobilization, Intramedullary nailing, Plating, Tibial shaft fracture, Weight‑bearingAbstract
Background: Tibial shaft fractures are common and often require surgical fixation. This study compared intramedullary nailing (IMN) and plating for early postoperative mobility. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 480 adults with closed diaphyseal tibial fractures (240 IMN, 240 plating). Physiotherapy notes documented the first day of active knee/ankle mobilization. Outpatient visits provided data on time to partial and full weight-bearing. For comparison between groups t-test was used and p≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Time to joint mobilization was significantly shorter with IMN (3.0±1.60 days) than plating (6.0±1.55 days), with a mean difference of -3.0 days (95% CI: -3.28 to -2.72; p<0.0001). Times to partial (6.68 vs 6.73 weeks; mean difference -0.05, 95% CI: -0.31 to 0.21; p=0.707) and full weight-bearing (8.57 vs 8.45 weeks; mean difference 0.12, 95% CI: -0.15 to 0.39; p=0.389) were not significantly different. Conclusion: IMN allows significantly earlier joint mobilization than plating. As weight-bearing timelines were similar, IMN is preferred when early motion is a priority.
Pak J Physiol 2026;22(3):121-4, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v22i3.1934
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Copyright (c) 2026 Syed Abdullah Qasim, Syed Qasim Mehmood Shah, Saim Khan Khattak, Syeda Duaa Qasim, Muhammad Basharat, Rifat Latif
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