The authors analyzed 41 cases of fresh diaphyseal fracture of tibia who were treated with intramedullary interlocking nail between Oct. 1991 to Oct. 1993. in Hae-Dong hospital and followed up for 12 months or more.

Among 41 cases, 18 cases were treated with reamed nailing method, and the others with unlearned method.

The authors compared the results of 2 type of nailing method and obtained the following results.

1. Most of the cases(63%) had injury in their third and forth decade. Male was 31 cases.

2. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident(61%).

3. The mean bony union time was 16.5 weeks in reamed case, and 15.6 weeks in unlearned case.

4. The patients were judged to have good or excellent result in 89% of reamed cases and 87% of unlearned cases according to functional result by Klemm and Borner. The merits of unlearned intramedullary interlocking nail were relatively easier in procedure, short operation time, and less bleeding.

So the authors concluded that unlearned intramedullary interlocking nail is useful method to treat the tibial diaphyseal fractures, especially in open fracture, elder patient and complicated patient.