1. Details of secondary/revision surgery for complications.

Trial ID	Group	Reasons for revision operation	Secondary procedures
Guo 2010		None1	None
Im 2005	Nailing	3 non‐union	2 exchange nailing and autogenous bone grafting; 1 bone grafting
	Plating	1 non‐union	1 autogenous bone grafting
		1 non‐union with deep infection	1 plate removal and debridement, then change to external fixator, revision plate osteosynthesis after infection control
		1 superficial wound infection	1 skin grafting
Mauffrey 2012	Nailing	1 hardware impingement	1 removal of hardware
		1 compartment syndrome	1 fasciectomy
	Plating	2 non‐union	1 exchange nailing, 1 awaiting surgery
		3 hardware impingement	3 removal of hardware
		1 compartment syndrome	1 fasciectomy
		1 deep infection	1 debridement, antibiotics and plate removal upon fracture union

1. 47 implants were removed (23 in the nail group versus 24 in the plate group) after end of follow‐up (mean 15.5 months). The main factors contributing to the decision for implant removal were prominence of the plate and pain.