Comparative study between conservative orthopedic therapy and intramedullary osteosynthesis of diaphyseal tibial fractures

: The authors present the results obtained in a series of 275 tibial shaft fractures, 216 of which were treated by a functional orthopaedic procedure and 59 with different kinds of nailing techniques. The results are evaluated according to the criteria established by Johner and Wruhs. "Good" results were obtained with both kinds of treatment; "excellent" results were slightly more frequent with nailing techniques, owing to better alignment and a lesser degree of shortening in the fractures, although the residual deformities after the functional orthopaedic treatment were tolerable.