Effect of axial load test in assisting Taylor spatial frame for tibia and fibula fractures / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of axial load test in Taylor spatial frame treatment of external fixation for tibia and fibula fractures.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 36 patients with open fracture of tibia and fibula admitted to Tianjin Hospital from March 2015 to June 2017.There were 22 males and 14 females,aged 21-71 years[(46.1±14.2)years].All patients received Taylor spatial frame external fixation for tibia and fibula fracture within 1 week after injury.After operation,18 patients received axial load test(experiment group),and the other 18 did not(control group).When the value of axial load test was less than 5% in experiment group,the Taylor spatial frame was removed.The control group used traditional method to remove the Taylor spatial frame.Comparisons were made between the two groups in terms of treatment duration,total cost,re-fracture after Taylor spatial frame removal and incidence of stent-tract infection.Results All patients were followed up for 3-14 months with an average of 8.6 months.Compared with control group,the treatment duration[(36.17±11 .44)weeks vs.(44.50±9.16)weeks]and total cost[(93.7±7.9)thousand yuan vs.(120.1±10.6)thousand yuan]of experiment group were significantly lower(P＜0.05).In the experiment group,there was 0 patient with re-fracture and two patients with stent-tract infection,with the complication incidence of 11%,while there were two patients with re-fracture and three patients with stent-tract infection,with the complication incidence of 28% in the control group(P＞0.05).Conclusions After Taylor spatial frame external fixation for tibia and fibula fractures,regular axial load test can safely and timely guide the removal of Taylor spatial frame.It can reduce the treatment duration and cost compared with the traditional removal method,being safe and reliable.