The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
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J Bone Joint Surg Am · Apr 2002
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialAnterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of fractures of the tibial shaft. A prospective, randomized study comparing two different nail-insertion techniques.
Anterior knee pain is the most common complication after intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Dissection of the patellar tendon and its sheath during nailing is thought to be a contributing cause of chronic anterior knee pain. The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to assess whether the prevalence or the intensity of anterior knee pain following intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture is reduced by the use of a paratendinous incision for the nail entry portal. ⋯ Compared with a transpatellar tendon approach, a paratendinous approach for nail insertion does not reduce the prevalence of chronic anterior knee pain or functional impairment by a clinically relevant amount after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture.