To analyze the possible causes and incidence of the chronic anterior knee pain follow after closed intramedullary nailing for the tibial shaft fractures, in a retrospective aspect.

52 patients who treated with intramedullary nailing for the tibial shaft fractures from January 2001 to October 2008 were reviewed. We analyzed the relationship between knee pain and the variables (sex, age, types of fracture, protrusion extent of intramedullary nailing on proximal tibia). The aspects of pain, its onset and relieving time, and how much it influences on daily living were analyzed retrospectively. For categorical variables, group variences were estimated using Chi-square test.

34 patients of 52 (65%) complaint of anterior knee pain followed after intramedullary nailing, and there were no statistical differences between pain and sex/age (p>0.05). Incidence of anterior knee pain becomes higher as the severity of fracture increases, but there was no statistical difference between pain and intramedullary nailing protrusion. Pain severity was mostly not influencing on daily living, and it mostly responded to conservative treatment.

The incidence of anterior knee pain followed after intramedullary nailing was 65%, and its severity was mostly not influencing on daily living. There were no significant differences between pain and sex, age, protrusion extent of intramedullary nailing on proximal tibia, but as the severity of frature increases, the incidence of anterior knee pain became higher.