Anterior knee pain is the most common complication after intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Dissection of the patellar tendon and its sheath during transtendinous nailing is thought to be a contributing cause of chronic anterior knee pain. The purpose of this long-term follow-up of a prospective, randomized study was to assess whether the prevalence and intensity of anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture is different in transtendinous versus paratendinous incision technique.
Anterior knee pain is the most common complication after intramedullary nailing of the tibia. Dissection of the patellar tendon and its sheath during transtendinous nailing is thought to be a contributing cause of chronic anterior knee pain. The purpose of this long-term follow-up of a prospective, randomized study was to assess whether the prevalence and intensity of anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture is different in transtendinous versus paratendinous incision technique.