title: Treatment of fractures of the tibial shaft with inter-fragmentary screws and external fixation.
abstract: In a prospective trial, 10 patients underwent inter-fragmentary screws and external fixation for unilateral tibial shaft fractures. Anatomical reduction was achieved in all cases and uncomplicated bone union occurred in nine patients with a mean time to union of 122 (SD 20) days. One patient had delayed union and the fracture malunited. A 20% pin tract sepsis rate was encountered. The high risk of infection, the demanding follow-up and availability of better methods, does not allow this technique to be recommended in the routine treatment of closed tibial diaphysial fractures.
authors.affiliation: British Military Hospital, Rinteln.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grevitt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D016267:External Fixators; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing