Sixty-four closed or Gustilo type I open fractures of the tibial shaft were treated with interlocking intramedullary nailing with(n=38) or without(n=26) reaming and were followed for an average of 13 months. The time to bony union ranged from twelve to twenty-five weeks with an average of 16.4 weeks in reamed method and from thirteen to twenty-seven weeks with an average of 15.9 weeks in unlearned method. The complications of reamed method were seen in 4 cases(11%) (two stiffness of ankle joint, one malunion and one distal screw breakage) whereas complications of unlearned method were seen in 7 cases(27%) (one stiffness of ankle joint, two malunions and four distal screw breakages). There was no significant difference in the union time of reamed and unlearned interlocking intramedullary nailing. But complications of fracture healing were less frequently seen on reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing.