Shortening, Angulations, and Rotation in a Fracture

As the top orthopedic products manufacturers in India and orthopaedic implants suppliers, we have seen that there is considerable support to the fact that nonsurgical ambulatory treatment of tibial fractures using the traditional above-the-knee weight-bearing cast is associated with a low incidence of nonunion. This method was popularized in many countries, including the USA by Ernst Dehne. As the studies in Tibia / Femur Nailing System further progressed, this method was criticized by some experts because excessive shortening and angular deformities occur due to it.

Over the years and with more and more progress in ortho surgical implants science, it was found that most of these complications were preventable and that they occurred when the use of the cast was contraindicated. The critical assessment of the method was done after there was a failure to recognize that manual correction of undesirable shortening was likely to happen again at the initiation of weight-bearing.

Neither orthopedic implants like casts nor braces prevent shortening. Also, the significance of the undamaged fibula in the creation of Varus angular deformity is also not sufficiently stressed upon. Varus angular deformity is an extreme inward angulation of the outer segment of a bone or joint towards the body midline.

The role of the fibula in the performance of tibial fractures and usage of interlocking nails and locking plates is discussed further.