Comparative investigation of percutaneous plating and intramedullary nailing effects on IL-6 production in patients with tibia shaft fracture

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of intramedullary nailing (IMN), open plating and percutaneous plating on the induction of IL-6 in patients with tibia fractures. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with tibia shaft fracture underwent either intramedullary nailing (IMN, n = 15; 14 males and 1 female; mean age: 32.1 ± 15.6), ORIF plating (n = 8; 5 males and 3 females; mean age: 60.0 ± 17.8), or percutaneous plating (n = 7; 6 males and 1 female; mean age: 43.1 ± 21.4). Serum IL-6 cytokine levels were measured prior to, and 6 and 24 h after the surgery, using a special ELISA kit. RESULTS: The IL-6 concentration increased to peak levels at 6 h in both IMN and percutaneous plating groups, and at 24 h in ORIF plating group (p < 0.001). The mean IL-6 concentration of percutaneous plating group was significantly lower than that of the IMN group at 6 h following the surgery (p = 0.022). In addition, the mean IL-6 concentration of ORIF plating group was significantly higher than that of the percutaneous plating group at 24 h post operation (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that percutaneous plating compared to the IMN has lower effects on IL-6 production in patients with tibia fracture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study