Clinical evaluation of the treatment of open comminuted tibiofibular fractures near articulation with three dimensional external fixators / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the method, clinical effects and influential factors of using three dimensional external fixators in the treatment of severe open comminuted tibiofibular fractures 5 cm near the knee or ankle joints. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 32 cases of open comminuted tibiofibular fracture 5 cm near the knee (11 cases) or ankle joints (21 cases). They were treated with three dimensional external fixators from October 2000 to May 2005. The patients with small wounds were treated with manipulative reduction or leverage reduction through the wound under the guidance of C-arm radiography. In case of malreduction or soft tissue being tangled by the fracture ends, visible reduction was carried out after the wound was lengthened or a small incision was added. Limited internal fixation was used in case of necessity. The results were evaluated in terms of shortening of the fractured limbs, X-ray manifestation, bilateral flexion differences and postoperative walking complaints. Results Follow-ups from 5 to 18 months (nine months on average) showed that all the cases achieved osseous union. The mean union time was 5.6 months. The total excellent and good rates of fracture healing and functional recovery were 81.3% and 87.5% respectively. Conclusion Application of the three dimensional external fixator is appropriate for the treatment of severe open comminuted tibiofibular fracture 5 cm near the knee or ankle joints, because its operative procedure is simple, the injury it causes is minimal, its fixation is reliable and its complications are quite limited.