Plating versus Intramedullary Nailing of OTA/AO 43C1 and C2 Intra-articular Distal Tibia Fractures: A Propensity Score and Multivariate Analysis

To compare rates of loss of reduction, nonunion, and infection in intra-articular distal tibia fractures (IADTF) treated with limited open reduction internal fixation and intramedullary nailing (IMN) as compared to open reduction internal fixation with plate and screws (PF).Retrospective Review.Level-I academic trauma center.110 patients, age ≥ 18 with operatively treated OTA/AO 43C1 and C2 IADTF between 2013-2021.Loss of reduction, surgical site infection (SSI), nonunion, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).110 patients met the inclusion criteria (IMN 33, PF 77). There was no loss of reduction reported. 17 nonunions (15% overall; IMN 4/33, PF 13/77) and 13 SSIs (12% overall; IMN 2/33, PF11/77) were identified. Despite several risk factors being identified for nonunion and SSI in bivariate analysis, only open fracture remained significant as a risk factor for both nonunion (OR 0.09 for closed fracture, 95% CI 0.02-0.56, p=0.009) and SSI (OR 0.07 for closed fracture, 95% CI 0.06-0.26, p=0.012) in the multivariate model. Propensity scoring based on presurgical variables was significantly different between patients that received IMN vs PF (p=0.03); however, logistic regression incorporating the propensity score revealed no significant association with nonunion and SSI. Adjusting for the propensity score, there remained no association comparing IMN versus PF with nonunion and SSI (p=0.54 and p=0.17, respectively). There was also no difference in PROs between IMN and PF (Physical function: p=0.25, Pain interference: p=0.21).Overall nonunion and SSI prevalence in our cohort was 15% and 12%, respectively, in operatively treated OTA/AO 43C1 and C2 IADTF. An open fracture is a significant risk factor for nonunion and SSI. Metaphyseal fixation via IMN or PF in IADTF did not affect the loss of reduction, nonunion, SSI, and PROs.Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.