Use of external fixator in the treatment of open comminuted tibial shaft fractures

ABSTRACT

18 cases of comminuted tibial shaft fractures were treated by the external fixator device. All fractures were open. Skeletal and extraskeletal injuries were present in 77.8% of cases. Road traffic accidents were the causative trauma in 77.8%. The average period of follow up was 18 months. The results were very good in 11.1%, good in 44.5%, fair in 22.2%, and poor in 22.2%. The high incidence of fair and poor results was due to the severity of trauma, associated injuries, development of infection, and the strict scheme for evaluation. The average time for full recovery was 40 weeks