MRI Assessment of Cartilage Damage in Tibial Nailing

Fractures of the tibia (shin bone) are frequently treated with a metal nail that is passed down the inside of the bone (an intra-medullary nail). This nail is inserted through the top of the tibia at the level of the knee joint. There are two ways for the nail to be inserted - either through an incision below the patella (kneecap) or above the patella. The benefit of the incision above the patella is that it can make it technically easier to insert the nail into the correct position. However, the perceived risk of damage to the knee cartilage has prevented this technique from being widely adopted. The investigators will use MRI scanning to assess the cartilage for damage using both techniques. The results will enable the investigators to determine if the theoretical risk of cartilage damage is found in real-world scenarios and to generate data for further, larger studies.