Autologous skin grafting, vacuum sealing drainage and external fixation for repair of complex and severe open fracture of the elbow joint / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The incidence of open fracture of the elbow joint is increased rapidly with an increased number of accidents. Fractures are often accompanied by severe soft tissue injuries. At present, a combined therapy of autologous skin grafting, vacuum sealing drainage and external fixation for the treatment of open fractures has been widely reported. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the characteristics of the combined therapy of autologous skin grafting, vacuum sealing drainage, and external fixation for repair of complex and severe open fracture of the elbow joint. METHODS:A total of 41 patients with complex and severe open fracture of the elbow joint who received the combined therapy of autologous skin grafting, vacuum sealing drainage and external fixation during January 2009 to December 2013 in General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, China were selected. Al patients were treated with routine debridement, external fixation and vacuum sealing drainage to cover wound during the first period. During the second period, autologous skin grafting or flap transfer was used to repair wound when the fresh granulation tissue covered the wound. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The postoperative folow-up period of these 41 patients was 8-22 months, with an average period of 13 months. External fixation period was 8-13 months with an average period of 9.8 months. The open wounds were completely healed after autologous skin grafting or skin flaps transfer. Fractures were healed in 31 patients during the first period. There were 7 cases of delayed union, 3 cases of nonunion. Al fractures were completely healed during 8-12 months after iliac bone grafting. The excelent and good rate of limb function recovery was 73.1% among 41 patients with severe open fracture of the elbow joint. The limb function of Gustilo II patients better recovered. These results suggest that the clinical effect of the combined therapy of autologous skin grafting, vacuum sealing drainage and external fixation for the treatment of complex and severe open fractures of the elbow joint is satisfactory.