External fixator plus steel plate for treatment of open tibiofibular fractures combined with tibial defect

VernacularTitle:外固定架加钢板治疗伴有胫骨骨缺损的开放性胫腓骨骨折
Author: Liren HAN ; Bei ZHAO ; Weidong MU ; Jun YAN ; Liang CHEN ; Shizhang HAN ; Xiaofei YANG
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Tibial fractures; External fixators; Bone defects
From: Chinese Journal of Trauma 2013;(3):258-261
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To investigate feasibility and effect of external fixator plus steel plate in treatment of open tibiofibular fractures combined with tibial defect.Methods The study involved 21 patients with open fractures of tibia and fibula (15 patients with type Gastilo ⅢA,five with type Gastilo ⅢB and one with type Gastilo ⅢC) with concurrent tibial defect of 2-6 cm.External fixator plus fibular steel plate was performed at the first stage,followed by iliac bone grafting for bone defect at the second stage.Results All patients showed successful reconstruction of the tibial defects with length difference between affected and healthy extremities less than 2 cm in follow-up for (14.0 ± 10.5) months (range,8-24 months).Meanwhile,no talipes equinovarus existed.Conclusions External fixator plus steel plate is an effective method for treating open tibiofibular fractures combined with tibial defect.The length and function of the extremities of patients with open tibiofibular fractures combined with tibial defect of less than 6 cm can be successfully restored.