PURPOSEIlizarov ring fixator and limb reconstruction system (LRS) fixators have been used in the management of complex tibial fractures with severe soft tissue injuries, compound tibial fractures, and infected tibial nonunion for which conventional internal fixation cannot be contemplated. Fracture union and distraction osteogenesis can be done simultaneously with these external fixators, allowing early weight bearing. Several previous studies have shown almost equal results of rail and ring fixators for the compound tibial shaft fractures. Thus we performed a prospective study to evaluate the union rate, functional outcome and amount of limb lengthening after the treatment of compound tibial shaft fractures with or without infected nonunion by ring or LRS fixators.

METHODSThis prospective study was done at Sarojini Naidu Medical College and Hospital, Agra, India and included 32 patients of compound tibial shaft fractures with or without infected nonunion. There were 26 males and 6 females and the average age was 40 years. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (n=16 for each): one underwent Ilizarov fixation and the other received LRS fixation. Cases were followed up for 3-24 months, 6 months on average from September 2012 to October 2014. Functional and radiological outcomes were assessed using the Association for the Study and Application of Methods of Ilizarov (ASAMI) criteria for both rail and ring fixators.

RESULTSUnion was achieved in all cases. Radiological outcome was found excellent in 68.75%, good in 18.75% and fair in 12.50% of cases treated by rail fixators whereas it was excellent in 56.25%, good in 18.75%, fair in 12.50% and poor in 12.50% of cases treated by ring fixators. Functional result was satis- factory in 75.00% of cases treated by rail fixator and 68.75% of cases treated by ring fixators whereas the corresponding rate of unsatisfactory was 25.00% vs. 31.25%.

CONCLUSIONIn our short-term assessment, LRS fixators show a better result than Ilizarov fixators in terms of fracture union and functional outcome with soft tissue care and limb length.

Adult ; Aged ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; instrumentation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tibial Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSEThe results for fixation of comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures are not very promising with reported complications in terms of osteoarthritis, nonunion and malunion which subsequently require conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The conversion to total hip arthroplasty is possible in patients over 50 years of age but not in younger patients. So this requires new methods for salvage of the native hip in young patients.

METHODSThere were six patients in our series with highly comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures where the fragments were excised and the gap filled with tricortical anterior iliac-crest strut autograft, fixed with screws and plate.

RESULTSGood results were achieved in four out of six patients analyzed clinically using the Merle d'Aubinge score modified by Matta and radiologically by Matta scoring. These patients have returned to original work and are walking independently. The good result in one patient deteriorated from good to poor between one and two years. One patient developed infection and excision arthroplasty was done. The graft incorporated well in five out of six patients.

CONCLUSIONThe use of iliac crest autograft is a better, advanced and promising technique as it provides a new wall to the weight bearing dome of the acetabulum for articulation with the femoral head. The rates of nonunion, malunion, post traumatic osteoarthritis are less as compared to the fixation of the comminuted fragments. The need for conversion to total hip arthroplasty is also less.