Results of open tibial fracture treatment using external fixation
Introduction. Open lower leg fractures are the most common open fractures of the locomotor system and their treatment is associated with a number of complications. Objective. The aim of the paper was to present the results of the treatment of 68 patients with open lower leg fractures, as we...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Serbian Medical Society
2016-01-01
|
| Series: | Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0370-8179/2016/0370-81791606293G.pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction. Open lower leg fractures are the most common open fractures of
the locomotor system and their treatment is associated with a number of
complications. Objective. The aim of the paper was to present the results of
the treatment of 68 patients with open lower leg fractures, as well as the
complications that accompany the treatment of these fractures. Methods. In
the analyzed group, there were 45 (66.18%) men and 23 (33.82%) women. The
majority of patients - 33 (48.53%) of them - were injured in motor vehicle
accidents, whereas 24 (35.29%) patients sustained injuries due to falls from
heights. In two (2.94%) patients the cause of open tibial fractures was
gunshot injuries. In the analyzed group, there were 18 (26.47%) type I open
fractures, 21 (30.88%) type II open fractures, 19 (27.94%) type IIIA open
fractures, seven (10.29%) type IIIB open fractures, and three (4.41%) type
IIIC open fractures. Results. The tibial shaft fracture healed without
serious complications in 50 (73.53%) patients, whereas in 18 (26.47%)
patients we observed some complications. Nonunion was found in 10 (14.71%)
patients, osteitis in four (5.88), malunion in two (2.94%) patients. Milder
complications such as soft tissue pin tract infection developed in 13
(19.12%) patients, infection of the open fracture wound soft tissue was
observed in four (5.88%) patients. Conclusion. Basic principles in the
treatment of open lower leg fractures in this study are thorough primary open
fracture wound treatment followed by the delayed wound closure, stable
fracture fixation using unilateral external skeletal device, proper
antibiotic treatment and tetanus prophylaxis. The results correlate with
similar studies. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III
41017: Virtual Human Osteoarticular System and its Application in Preclinical
and Clinical Practice] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0370-8179 2406-0895 |