title: Unstable tibio-fibular fractures treated with an external fixator--a clinical report of 1033 cases.
abstract: From 1977 to 1987, 1033 cases of unstable tibio-fibular fractures were treated with an external fixator designed by the authors. Among them, 232 involved open fractures. All of the patients were followed up for 4 to 90 months (average 20 months). The duration of bed confinement averaged 8.3 days, and the mean time necessary for clinical bone union was 54 days. Anatomical or nearly anatomical bone apposition was effected in 878 cases (85.0%), functional apposition in 141 cases (13.6%) and malunion in 14 cases (1.4%). The overall functional results were as follows: excellent in 769 cases (74.4%), good in 218 cases (21.1%), fair in 32 cases (3.1%), and poor in 14 cases (1.4%). The design of the device and its indications are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*