Efficacy of distracting external fixator for tibiofibular fractures combined with osteofascial compartment syndrome / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the efficacy of distracting external fixator for tibiofibular fractures combined with osteofascial compartment syndrome.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 62 patients with tibiofibular fractures combined with osteofascial compartment syndrome admitted to Air Force Hospital from Eastern Theater of PLA from March 2009 to March 2019, including 47 males and 15 females, aged 20-78 years［（47.1±13.4）years］. There were 30 patients with tibia shaft fractures, 17 with tibia plateau fractures and 15 with tibia distal fractures. The fractures were classified as type 4A in 18 patients, type 4B in 24 and type 4C in 20 according to AO/OT classification. Distracting external fixation was performed for 30 patients（Group A）and calcaneal tuberosity traction for 32 patients（Group B）. Levels of alanine aminotransferase（ALT）, urea nitrogen（BUN）, creatine kinase（CK）and lactate dehydrogenase（LDH）of the injured limb were compared between the two groups during traction. Additionally, the fasciotomy rate, time of damage control treatment（observation interval from trauma to stage II definitive surgery）, time of stage II definitive surgery, internal fixation modalities of stage II definitive surgery, rate of needle tract infection and rate of non-planned secondary surgery were compared between the two groups. The limb function was assessed using Johner-Wruhs scoring system at the last follow-up.Results:All patients were followed up for 12-22 months［（15.1±2.7）months］. Level of CK in Group A was 315.6（140.0, 531.5）U/L, significantly lower than that in Group B［465.5（277.0, 1240.5）U/L］（ P<0.05）. The two groups revealed no statistical differences in levels of BUN, CK and LDH（ P>0.05）. The fasciotomy rate in Group A［40%（12/30）］was higher than that in Group B［34%（11/32）］, but the difference was statistically insignificant（ P>0.05）. The time of stage II definitive surgery in Group A was（68.5±17.1）minutes, significantly lower than that in Group B［（89.0±15.1）minutes］（ P<0.05）. The rate of non-planned secondary surgery in Group A［3%（1/30）］was lower than that in Group B［25%（8/32）］（ P<0.05）. There were no statistically significant differences in time of damage control treatment, internal fixation modalities of stage II definitive surgery and rate of needle infection between the two groups（ P>0.05）. According to Johner-Wruhs scoring system, the function in Group A were excellent in 17 patients, good in 5, fair in 2 and poor in 6 at the last follow-up, with the excellent rate of 73%. However, the difference was not statistically significant when compared to Group B excellent in 13 patients, good in 3, fair in 7 and poor in 9, with the excellent rate of 50%（ P>0.05）. Conclusion:Compared with calcaneal tuberosity traction, the distracting external fixation of tibiofibular fractures combined with osteofascial compartment syndrome can attenuate soft tissue damage during the traction and shorten the time of stage II definitive surgery by maintaining intraoperative fracture reduction.