Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study

Abstract Background It’s difficult to treat segmental tibial fractures (STFs), which are intricate injuries associated with significant soft tissue damage. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effect of hexaxial external fixator (HEF) and intramedullary nail (IMN) in treatment of STFs....

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Main Authors: Zhiming Zhao, Hengsheng Shu, Peng Jia, Xu Chen, Feng Guo, Yabin Liu, Bowen Shi, Guoqi Ji, Chengkuo Cai, Yidong Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:BMC Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02327-0
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author Zhiming Zhao
Hengsheng Shu
Peng Jia
Xu Chen
Feng Guo
Yabin Liu
Bowen Shi
Guoqi Ji
Chengkuo Cai
Yidong Shen
author_facet Zhiming Zhao
Hengsheng Shu
Peng Jia
Xu Chen
Feng Guo
Yabin Liu
Bowen Shi
Guoqi Ji
Chengkuo Cai
Yidong Shen
author_sort Zhiming Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background It’s difficult to treat segmental tibial fractures (STFs), which are intricate injuries associated with significant soft tissue damage. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effect of hexaxial external fixator (HEF) and intramedullary nail (IMN) in treatment of STFs. Methods A total of 42 patients with STFs were finally recruited between January 2018 and June 2022. There were 25 males and 17 females with age range of 20 to 60 years. All fractures were classified as type 42C2 using the Arbeitsgemeinschaftfür Osteosythese/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification. 22 patients were treated with HEF and 20 patients were treated with IMN. The condition of vascular and neural injuries, time of full weight bearing, bone union time and infection rate were documented and analyzed between the two groups. The mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), mechanical posterior proximal tibial angle (mPPTA), mechanical lateral distal tibial angle (mLDTA), mechanical anterior distal tibial angle (mADTA), hospital for special surgery (HSS) knee joint score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle joint score, range of motion (ROM) of flexion of keen joint and ROM of plantar flexion and dorsal flexion of ankle joint were compared between the two groups at the last clinical visit. Results There were no vascular and neural injuries or other severe complications in both groups. All 22 patients in HEF group underwent closed reduction but 3 patients in IMN group were treated by open reduction. The time of full weight bearing was (11.3 ± 3.2) days in HEF group and (67.8 ± 5.8) days in IMN group(P < 0.05), with bone union time for (6.9 ± 0.8) months and (7.7 ± 1.4) months, respectively(P < 0.05). There was no deep infection in both groups. In the HEF group and IMN group, mMPTA was (86.9 ± 1.5)° and (89.7 ± 1.8)°(P < 0.05), mPPTA was (80.8 ± 1.9)° and (78.6 ± 2.0)°(P < 0.05), mLDTA was (88.5 ± 1.7)° and (90.3 ± 1.7)°(P < 0.05), while mADTA was (80.8 ± 1.5)° and (78.4 ± 1.3)°(P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups at the last clinical visit concerning HSS knee joint score and AOFAS ankle joint score, ROM of flexion of keen joint and ROM of plantar flexion of ankle joint (P > 0.05). The ROM of dorsal flexion of ankle joint in IMN group was (30.4 ± 3.5)°, better than (21.6 ± 2.8)° in HEF group (P < 0.05). Conclusion In terms of final clinical outcomes, the use of either HEF or IMN for STFs can achieve good therapeutic effects. While HEF is superior to IMN in terms of completely closed reduction, early full weight bearing, early bone union and alignment. Nevertheless, HEF has a greater impact on the ROM of dorsal flexion of the ankle joint, and much more care and adjustment are needed for the patients than IMN.
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spelling doaj.art-6784427293ef425aac23d8d5c602d5fd2024-03-05T17:30:52ZengBMCBMC Surgery1471-24822024-02-012411810.1186/s12893-024-02327-0Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective studyZhiming Zhao0Hengsheng Shu1Peng Jia2Xu Chen3Feng Guo4Yabin Liu5Bowen Shi6Guoqi Ji7Chengkuo Cai8Yidong Shen9Department of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Traumatic Orthopaedics, Tianjin HospitalDepartment of Orthopaedics, The First People’s Hospital of Yancheng (Yancheng First Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School)Abstract Background It’s difficult to treat segmental tibial fractures (STFs), which are intricate injuries associated with significant soft tissue damage. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effect of hexaxial external fixator (HEF) and intramedullary nail (IMN) in treatment of STFs. Methods A total of 42 patients with STFs were finally recruited between January 2018 and June 2022. There were 25 males and 17 females with age range of 20 to 60 years. All fractures were classified as type 42C2 using the Arbeitsgemeinschaftfür Osteosythese/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification. 22 patients were treated with HEF and 20 patients were treated with IMN. The condition of vascular and neural injuries, time of full weight bearing, bone union time and infection rate were documented and analyzed between the two groups. The mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), mechanical posterior proximal tibial angle (mPPTA), mechanical lateral distal tibial angle (mLDTA), mechanical anterior distal tibial angle (mADTA), hospital for special surgery (HSS) knee joint score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle joint score, range of motion (ROM) of flexion of keen joint and ROM of plantar flexion and dorsal flexion of ankle joint were compared between the two groups at the last clinical visit. Results There were no vascular and neural injuries or other severe complications in both groups. All 22 patients in HEF group underwent closed reduction but 3 patients in IMN group were treated by open reduction. The time of full weight bearing was (11.3 ± 3.2) days in HEF group and (67.8 ± 5.8) days in IMN group(P < 0.05), with bone union time for (6.9 ± 0.8) months and (7.7 ± 1.4) months, respectively(P < 0.05). There was no deep infection in both groups. In the HEF group and IMN group, mMPTA was (86.9 ± 1.5)° and (89.7 ± 1.8)°(P < 0.05), mPPTA was (80.8 ± 1.9)° and (78.6 ± 2.0)°(P < 0.05), mLDTA was (88.5 ± 1.7)° and (90.3 ± 1.7)°(P < 0.05), while mADTA was (80.8 ± 1.5)° and (78.4 ± 1.3)°(P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups at the last clinical visit concerning HSS knee joint score and AOFAS ankle joint score, ROM of flexion of keen joint and ROM of plantar flexion of ankle joint (P > 0.05). The ROM of dorsal flexion of ankle joint in IMN group was (30.4 ± 3.5)°, better than (21.6 ± 2.8)° in HEF group (P < 0.05). Conclusion In terms of final clinical outcomes, the use of either HEF or IMN for STFs can achieve good therapeutic effects. While HEF is superior to IMN in terms of completely closed reduction, early full weight bearing, early bone union and alignment. Nevertheless, HEF has a greater impact on the ROM of dorsal flexion of the ankle joint, and much more care and adjustment are needed for the patients than IMN.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02327-0Tibial fracturesExternal fixators, Fracture fixationIntramedullary
spellingShingle Zhiming Zhao
Hengsheng Shu
Peng Jia
Xu Chen
Feng Guo
Yabin Liu
Bowen Shi
Guoqi Ji
Chengkuo Cai
Yidong Shen
Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
BMC Surgery
Tibial fractures
External fixators, Fracture fixation
Intramedullary
title Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
title_full Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
title_fullStr Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
title_short Hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures: a retrospective study
title_sort hexaxial external fixator versus intramedullary nail in treating segmental tibial fractures a retrospective study
topic Tibial fractures
External fixators, Fracture fixation
Intramedullary
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12893-024-02327-0
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