Timing and implant selection in conversion from external to internal fixation of tibial shaft fracture / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the time and implant selection in conversion from external fixation to internal fixation of tibial shaft fracture.Methods Data of 57 cases of tibial shaft fracture fixed externally followed by internal fixation from February 2003 to February 2012 were analyzed.Internal fixation (intramedullary nails or plates) initiated within 2 weeks (Group A,n =.35) and over 2 weeks (Group B,n =22) were compared in outcomes.Results One infection (3％) and four poor bone healing (11％) were observed in Group A.Five infections (23％) and three poor bone healing (14％) occurred in Group B.For intramedullary nail fixation,no infection was observed in Group A but infection rate of44％ was found in Group B.For plate internal fixation,infection rate was 8％ for both groups.Conclusions The conversion from internal fixation to internal fixation had better start within 2 weeks,with better resuhs,lower rate of infection and safer in comparison with that over 2 weeks.In addition,pin-tract infection is the high risk factor for infection after the conversion of the fixation.