Single-stage "Fix and Flap" gives Good Outcomes in Grade 3B/C Open Tibial Fractures: A Prospective Study

@#Introduction:Grade 3B/C open tibial fractures with grossly contaminated degloving injuries have poor outcomes, with or without vascular injuries. Treatment decision oscillates between limb salvage and amputation. The standard protocol of repeated debridement and delayed wound cover is a challenge in developing countries due to overcrowded emergencies and limited operating room availability. We present results of our modified protocol involving primary stabilisation with external fixation and immediate wound cover as an aggressive modality of treatment. Material and Methods:Thirty-three patients with severe open tibial shaft fractures were managed using a standardised protocol of emergent debridement, external fixation and immediate wound cover with free distant/local rotational muscle flaps and fasciocutaneous flaps, and with vascular repair in Grade 3C fractures. Intra-articular fractures were excluded. Patients were followed for a minimum of three years, with an assessment of clinical, radiological and functional outcomes. Results: Wound cover was achieved with 24 distant free muscle flaps, four local rotational muscle flaps and five fasciocutaneous flaps. All fractures united with an average time to union of 40.3 weeks (16-88). Fifteen patients (45.4%) underwent only a single major surgery using primary definitive external fixation. Deep infection was seen in four patients (12.1%). Nineteen patients had excellent to good outcomes, six were fair, and eight were poor. Conclusion: “Fix and Flap” in the same sitting, using immediate wound cover and external fixation, has given good results in our hands despite the delayed presentation, the neurovascular deficit and the degloving injury. This may be a better management strategy in overcrowded tertiary care centres of developing countries, with a single surgical procedure in almost half the cases.

Successful treatment of an open tibial fracture in a 102-year-old woman: a case report / Journal of Rural Medicine

Introduction: As the average life expectancy is increasing, the number of patients aged >100 years who have fragility fractures will increase in the future. In female patients, the incidence of open fractures increases with age.Case Presentation: We present the case of a 102-year-old woman with open tibial and fibular diaphyseal fractures (Gustilo-Anderson classification type IIIb) treated with temporary external fixation, advancement flap, and negative pressure wound therapy in the first-stage surgery and treatment, and open reduction and internal fixation with skin grafting in the second-stage surgery. Open wound and bone healing were attained.Conclusion: Surgery should not be denied on the basis of age alone. Medical evaluation should focus on identifying risk factors, assessing risk in detail, optimizing status, predicting complications, and making the appropriate surgical plan for the patient status. Moreover, in the present case, meticulous postoperative management was the main reason for the successful surgical treatment.

Patrón de decisión quirúrgica en la prescripción de amputaciones con escala MESS en fracturas de tibia expuesta grado III-B Gustilo-Anderson / Surgical decision pattern in the prescription of MESS-scale amputations in tibia fractures exposed grade III-B Gustilo-Anderson

Resumen: Introducción: El manejo de la extremidad severamente traumatizada continúa siendo materia de debate. Las fracturas de tibia III-B de Gustilo-Anderson tienen un amplio espectro de variantes, no hay guías mediante esta clasificación para un manejo. MESS ha demostrado asociación funcional y pronóstica. Objetivo: Identificar el patrón de decisión por parte de los cirujanos para la prescripción de amputaciones en fracturas de tibia expuesta grado IIIB Gustilo-Anderson con escala MESS. Material y métodos: Es un estudio descriptivo, observacional, prospectivo, transversal y analítico. Se evaluaron 131 ortopedistas de un centro de referencia de patología traumática, quienes con uso de la escala MESS evaluaron 10 casos clínicos representativos de fracturas de tibia expuesta grado III-B de Gustilo-Anderson presentados en dispositivo electrónico. Se evaluó la concordancia de las decisiones entre cirujanos que laboran y expertos. Se realizó análisis inferencial mediante χ2 (p < 0.05) de las variables del estudio: experiencia del cirujano, postgrados académicos, práctica clínica frecuente de amputaciones, concordancia de las decisiones con escala MESS con respecto al patrón de prescripción obtenido por expertos. Resultados: No se encontró asociación entre las variables con la aplicación de MESS (χ2 = 1.28, p = 0.2575). Los cirujanos de más de 10 años incrementaron una vez la posibilidad de coincidir con el resultado de expertos (OR = 2.088, IC 95%) (p = 0.0066). Conclusión: Las variables como postgrados académicos, experiencia quirúrgica y práctica clínica frecuente no influyen en la correcta aplicación de la escala MESS. Los cirujanos de más de 10 años de experiencia incrementaron al doble la posibilidad de una decisión precisa.

Abstract: Introduction: The management of severely traumatized extremity continues to be a matter of debate. Gustilo-Anderson tibial fractures III-B have a wide spectrum of variants, there are no guidelines using this classification for management. MESS has demonstrated functional and prognostic association. Objective: To identify the pattern of decision made by surgeons for the prescription of amputations in tibial fractures exposed grade III-B Gustilo-Anderson with MESS scale. Material and methods: This is a descriptive, observational, prospective, transversal, analytical study. One hundred thirty-one orthopedists from a traumatic pathology referral center were evaluated, using the MESS scale to evaluate 10 representative clinical cases of Gustilo-Anderson grade III-B tibial fractures presented in an electronic device. The concordance of the decisions between working surgeons and experts was evaluated. Inferential analysis was performed using the χ2 (p < 0.05) of the study variables: surgeon experience, academic postgraduate studies, frequent clinical practice of amputations, concordance of decisions with MESS scale with respect to the prescription pattern obtained by experts. Results: There was no association between the variables, with the application of MESS. (χ2 = 1.28, p = 0.2575). Surgeons of more than 10 years, increased once the possibility of matching the result of experts (OR = 2.088, 95% CI) (p = 0.0066). Conclusion: Academic degrees, surgical experience, and frequent clinical practice do not influence the correct application of the MESS scale. Surgeons with more than 10 years of experience have doubled the possibility of a precise decision.

Complications of Open Tibial Fracture Management: Risk Factors and Treatment

Open tibial fractures result in high rates of complications. This study aims to elucidate the risk factors causing these complications, and suggest antimicrobial regimens based on the organisms grown in post-operative infections. Over a period of five years, 173 patients had sustained open tibial fractures and undergone operative treatment at a single institution. All surgical data was gathered retrospectively through online medical records. Thirty-one patients (17.9%) had sustained post-operative bony complications, while infective complications were reported in 37 patients (21.4%). Patients with Gustilo type III fractures were found to be more than three times as likely to sustain post-operative infective (p=0.007) or bony (p=0.015) complications, compared to Gustilo type I or II fractures. The fracture location and time taken to fixation did not significantly affect the complication rate, but results were trending towards significance. The commonest cause of infective complications were hospital-acquired organisms, such as Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (40.5%). Closer monitoring of patients sustaining high grade Gustilo open fractures, as well as antimicrobial prophylaxis for both hospital-acquired organisms and environmental contaminants, will result in the best outcome for patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted, to determine the significance of fracture location and time taken to fixation on complication rates.

Clinical Observation on Vacuum Sealing Drainage for Open Tibial Fractures of Gustilo Grade-Ⅲ / 昆明医科大学学报

Objective To compare the clinical effect of vacuum sealing drainage and traditional methods on open tibial fractures of Gustilo grade-Ⅲ.Methods Seventy-eight patients with open tibial fractures of Gustilo grade-Ⅲ were divided into two groups,43 patients in observation group were treated by vacuum sealing drainage,while 35 patients in control group were treated by traditional methods.The operative quality,postoperative recovery condition,clinical effect and rate of adverse reaction were analyzed between two groups.Results As for the hospital stays,healing time of wound and fracture,the observation group were significant shorter than control group (P＜0.05).The excellent and good rate of observation group was 83.72％,which was significantly higher than that of control group 65.71％ (P ＜0.01).The adverse reaction rate of observation group was 6.98％,which was significantly lower than that of control group 17.14％ (P＜0.05) Conclusions Vacuum sealing drainage used for treatment of open tibial fractures of Gustilo grade-Ⅲ can shorten wound and fracture healing time,reduce the incidence of adverse reaction and improve the clinical effect.It is worth of popularization and application.

Treatment of open tibial fractures of type ⅢB with unreamed locking intramedullary nails and skin flap grafting / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Objective To investigate the methods for emergency treatment of open tibial fractures of type ⅢB. Methods From February 1999 to February 2002, 16 cases of open tibial fractures of type ⅢB (age range: 19 47 years; average age: 27 years; the skin defect area: 4.5cm ?3cm-14cm ?6cm) were treated with administration of antibiotics, debridement, stabilization by unreamed locking intramedullary nails, and finally transfer or transplantation of cutaneous or musculo cutaneous flaps. Autografting from the iliac crest was done for 4 cases with bone defects. Results The follow ups averaged 9 months (ranging from 6 months to 14 months). The survival rate of flaps was 100%and all were free of deep infection. All fractures healed within 6 months in 14 patients and within 10 months in 2 patients. According to the Johner Wruchs method, the functions of ankle and knee were excellent in 14 cases, and good in 2 cases. Conclusion Emergency management of open tibial fractures of type ⅢB with unreamed locking intramedullary nails and skin flap grafting results in good outcome.