Comparison of Clinical Effects of Intramedullary Nail Internal Fixation and Traditional Steel Plate Internal Fixation in the Treatment of Zhang-Hou Fracture

Abstract

<i>Objective: </i>The objective of this study was to analyse and compare of the clinical effects of two surgical methods in the treatment of Zhang-Hou fracture; <i>Method</i>: A total of 34 patients with Zhang-Hou fracture diagnosed in our hospital from 2020.08 to 2022.06 were reviewed. Among them, 17 patients were treated with tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation and 17 patients with traditional steel plate internal fixation. The blood loss, operation time, fracture healing time, excellent rate of affected limb function and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. <i>Result</i>: The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and fracture healing time were shorter in the intramedullary nail group, and the excellent rate of limb function in the intramedullary nail group was higher than that in the plate group 6 months after operation, but there was no significant difference between the two groups 12 months after operation. All the patients in the intramedullary nail group hadn’t serious complications after operation. Among the 17 patients in the plate group, 1 patient had wound infection and 1 patient had delayed fracture healing. <i>Conclusion</i>: In the clinical treatment of Zhang-Hou fracture, tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation not only has the advantages of short operation time, less trauma and quick recovery after operation, but also has better functional recovery of the affected limb and less postoperative complications. However, clinicians' learning curve of tibial intramedullary nail internal fixation is relatively long.