Radiological and Functional Outcomes and Associated Factors After Secondary Intramedullary Nailing Among Patients With Open Fractures of the Lower Limb

Background Open fractures of the lower limb are serious injuries caused by high-energy trauma that can lead to long-term disability. Initial treatment includes wound debridement, fracture reduction, and external fixation to stabilize bone fragments. Secondary nailing, a surgical technique to provide additional stability, has been shown to promote early mobilization and improve fracture alignment. However, there is a lack of consensus on the optimal timing and technique for secondary nailing. This study aims to evaluate the functional and radiological outcomes of patients who undergo secondary nailing for open fractures of the lower limb. Methods The study was a hospital-based prospective study of 53 patients who underwent secondary nailing for open fractures of the lower limbs. Patients aged 18 years or older, with Gustilo-Anderson classification grades 1, 2, or 3 A and B, who underwent wound debridement and external fixator application, followed by conversion to secondary intramedullary nail fixation between January 2019 and December 2021 were included in the study. The primary outcome measures were functional and radiological outcomes at follow-ups, assessed using the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and Radiographic Union Scale for Tibia fractures (RUST) score. Data were collected prospectively and analyzed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0, Armonk, NY). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient demographics and injury characteristics, and the Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare continuous variables between groups. The study had a final analysis of 39 patients. Results The study reports the baseline characteristics, radiological, and functional outcomes of 39 patients who underwent secondary nailing for open fractures of the lower limb. The majority of the fractures occurred in the tibia (71.8%), with most classified as grade 3 (A and B) (69.2%). At the end of the six-month period after secondary nailing, 74.4% of the fractures had a union. Radiological and functional outcomes showed significant improvement after undergoing secondary nailing. Gender and age group did not have a significant association with the radiological outcome, while the time interval between external fixation and secondary nailing was significantly associated with the radiological outcome at six weeks and three months. Conclusion According to a study, secondary nailing is effective in managing lower limb open fractures with good radiological and functional outcomes. The time interval between external fixation and secondary nailing affects radiological outcomes, with longer delays leading to lower RUST scores. Orthopaedic surgeons should consider this factor when planning surgical management. Larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods are needed to confirm findings and evaluate the effect of other variables on the outcome.