Aim: To evaluate the effect of traction on the compartment pressures during intramedullary nailing of closed tibial shaft fractures.

Materials and Methods: The study design was a randomised prospective trial. The period of the study was September 1999 to December 2000. 30 consecutive patients with Tscherne C1 fractures were randomised into two groups. 16 patients underwent intramedullary nailing of the tibia with traction and 14 patients with traction. Compartment pressures were measured before the application of traction or commencement of the procedure and at the end of the procedure. The method described by Guilli and Templeman was used to measure all the four compartments of the injured limb. The pressures were measured with a Stryker® pressure monitor. The absolute and differential compartment pressures were recorded. All patients were followed up for the duration of at least 8 months and until fracture union.

Results: The data collected was analysed using paired student t-test. There was no statistically significant difference (p> 0.05) in the preoperative mean compartment pressures for both groups when all the four compartments were measured individually. The mean postoperative measurements were higher (range 9–10 mmHg) in all four compartments in the traction group. This was statistically significant (p< 0.05). None of the pressures reached the critical level as they were more than 30 mmHg below the diastolic pressure (differential pressure).

Conclusions: These results show that traction increases compartment pressures during intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures. The group considered did not have compartment syndrome possibly due to less soft tissue injury. With greater soft tissue injury and greater preoperative compartment pressures, compartment pressures can reach a critical level necessitating decompression. We conclude that intramedullary nailing without traction reduces the chances of significant increase in compartment pressures and advocate the procedure be done without traction.