Intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures Pearls & pitfalls

The overall aim of this thesis is to contribute to individualizing the management of patients treated with IMN for a TSF in order to improve patient care after personal risk assessment (i.e. risk stratification). To achieve this, a more in-depth knowledge is required in regard to the various complications and subsequent surgical procedures that can occur. Particularly, a better insight into patient specific risks is essential to further individualize the management of patients with tibial shaft fractures, especially in our era of personalized medicine and data driven care. This may lead to an improvement of patient care and a prevention and reduction of complications.
This thesis will consist of three parts. In Part I we aim to identify patient specific risks of subsequent surgery in order to individualize patient consent and anticipate peri-operative management. In Part II we aim to determine patient specific risks of complications in order to individualize diagnostic work-up and peri-operative treatment plans. In Part III we aim to define to what extent iatrogenic complications limit patients’ functional performance, and to what extent these complications can be accepted to guide (post) operative management.