OBJECTIVETo investigate therapeutic effects of external fixator combined with artificial skin for the treatment of lower limb open fractures.

METHODSFrom January 2009 to February 2011,56 patients with lower limb open fractures were treated with external fixator and artificial skin following debridement. There were 42 males and 14 females, with a mean age of 43.6 years (ranged, 18 to 68 years). Wound surface or cavities were filled with artificial skin with embedded drainage tubes connected to vacuum bottle. The wounds were closed with secondary suturing, or free flap, or flap transfer at 5-7 days after primary operation. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by observing the wound healing, wound bacterial culture, healing time, recovery of limb function.

RESULTSThe wounds of 56 patients all healed. Fifty-three patients had bone primary union, and 3 patients had delayed union. The average union time was 5.8 months. There was pin-tract infection in 3 cases and superficial infection in 1 case. According to Ovadia evaluation criteria,45 patients got an excellent results, 9 good and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONArtificial skin combined with external fixator is a simple and effective treatment method for Gustilo III type severe open fractures of legs, which is effective to provide rapid fixation, seal wounds, and shorten secondary healing time of wounds.