title: Management of the soft tissues in open tibial fractures.
abstract: This paper reviews the treatment of 168 open tibial fractures referred to the Northern Ireland Plastic Surgery Service over a 15-year period. Flap reconstruction was carried out in 133 (79%) and split skin graft cover in 22 (13%). There were 18 amputations (11%). There was a high incidence of complications among early post-injury fasciocutaneous flaps and late free flaps. Twenty-five primary free flaps were transferred without complication. The current management of open tibial fractures in this Unit is described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Ulster Hospital, Dundonald.
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mollan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000293:injuries