A total of 73 (grade I-II) open fractures of the tibial shaft, 41 treated by Endernailing and 32 with external fixation, were retrospectively studied. Regarding the type of boneexposition, fractures were classified according to Gustilo. Fractures were also grouped followingAO criteria with regard to the fracture line. Different factors such as time period for fracturehealing, delay in union, pseudoarthrosis, infection, and functional disability were assessedin both groups of patients. Fractures treated by flexible endomedullar nailing had a mean timeperiod for healing of 3,3 months. There was no cases with union delay, but 4 patients (10%)developed pseudoarthrosis. In fractures treated with external fixation the mean time period forconsolidation was 4.1 months. In this group, there were 2 cases (6%) disclosing delay in unionand 6 developing pseudoarthrosis (19%). In absence of infection, endomedullary flexible nailinghas been shown to give better results than external fixation in the healing process of gradeI-II open fractures of the tibial shaft.

A total of 73 (grade I-II) open fractures of the tibial shaft, 41 treated by Endernailing and 32 with external fixation, were retrospectively studied. Regarding the type of boneexposition, fractures were classified according to Gustilo. Fractures were also grouped followingAO criteria with regard to the fracture line. Different factors such as time period for fracturehealing, delay in union, pseudoarthrosis, infection, and functional disability were assessedin both groups of patients. Fractures treated by flexible endomedullar nailing had a mean timeperiod for healing of 3,3 months. There was no cases with union delay, but 4 patients (10%)developed pseudoarthrosis. In fractures treated with external fixation the mean time period forconsolidation was 4.1 months. In this group, there were 2 cases (6%) disclosing delay in unionand 6 developing pseudoarthrosis (19%). In absence of infection, endomedullary flexible nailinghas been shown to give better results than external fixation in the healing process of gradeI-II open fractures of the tibial shaft.