ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Traditional external fixation of tibial fractures exhibits obvious stress shielding that delays fracture healing. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material has a similar elastic modulus to the bone, and it wil be possible to address this clinical problem. OBJECTIVE:To compare the outcome of PEEK external fixator versus traditionaly external fixator in the treatment of tibial fractures. METHODS:Clinical data of 86 patients with tibial fractures, including 64 males and 22 females, aged 24-78 years (mean age of 56 years), were retrospectively reviewed. There were 30 cases of closed fractures and 56 cases of open fractures; 32 cases received flat-patient surgery and 54 cases underwent emergency surgery. Al the patients were divided into two groups according to different fixation methods: PEEK group and traditional external fixator group. After operation, patients were checked regularly and at the last folow-up, functional recovery was evaluated according to Johner-Wruhs criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Al the patients were folowed up for 5-20 months. The mean fixator removal time of the PEEK group was 8.7 weeks and the mean duration of fracture healing was 4.2 months. The mean fixator removal time of the traditional external fixator group was 10.6 weeks and the mean duration of fracture healing was 6.1 months. At the last folow-up, in the PEEK group, 26 cases were assessed as excelent, 13 as good, 4 as poor; in the traditional external fixator group, 19 cases were assessed as excelent, 13 as good, 11 as poor. These findings indicate that PEEK external fixator for different types of tibial fractures can maintain the fracture stability, promote fracture healing and contribute to the functional recovery of the affected limbs.