Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Orthopedic and Spine Trauma 2538-2330 5 2 2020 08 08 29 31 Farzad Amoozadeh Omrani Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohsen Elahi Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Mahdi Sarzaeem Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Shahram Sayadi Anesthesiology Research Center, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamed Farzaneh Department of Infectious Diseases, Bu-Ali Hospital, School of Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran 2020 01 24 2020 05 11 Background: Intramedullary nailing (IM nailing) is the standard of care for the treatment of most diaphyseal lower extremity fractures. A few studies have assessed and compared the infection rate following reamed and unreamed IM nailing in open long bone fractures. In the present study, we attempted to compare the infection rate between two procedures in open fractures of tibia. Methods: In this prospective study, we included consecutive patients suffering from open fractures of tibia (Gustilo subtypes II or IIIA) who required IM nailing. Patients younger than 16 years old, other Gustilo types (I, IIIB, and IIIC), fractures reaching to the tibial plateau articular surface, and simultaneous fractures of other bones in the extremity were excluded. All patients were followed up for one year to assess the postoperative infection rate. Results: Of 59 patients, 37 underwent reamed IM nailing and 22 underwent unreamed IM nailing. In reamed group, 4 cases (10.8%) experienced an infection requiring reoperation and antibiotic therapy, while in the unreamed group, it was 5 cases (22.7%). The difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Reamed and unreamed IM nailing procedures for fractures of tibia have similar outcome regarding long-term postoperative infections that require reoperation and antibiotic therapy. https://jost.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jost/article/view/156 https://jost.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jost/article/download/156/148