title: Early prophylactic bone grafting of high-energy tibial fractures.
abstract: Fifty-three high-energy tibial fractures treated with early prophylactic posterolateral bone grafting were retrospectively reviewed. The bone-grafting procedures were performed at a mean of ten weeks following injury and at a mean of eight weeks following soft-tissue coverage. Ninety-six percent of the fractures had associated injuries with a mean injury severity score of 20.9. Seventy-nine percent of the fractures were classified as Grade III open fractures, and 40% had bone loss greater than 50% of the cortical circumference. Ninety-six percent of the fractures healed at a mean time of 43 weeks after injury. Segmental bone loss and soft-tissue injury requiring flap coverage were the best predictors of prolonged time to union. Comparison with a matched historical control group of tibial fractures not receiving early bone grafts revealed a mean reduction in time to union of 11.7 weeks (p = 0.03). The incidence of chronic osteomyelitis was 1.9%. These results are attributed to early and repeated aggressive debridement, immediate rigid external fixation, early soft-tissue coverage, and early posterolateral bone grafting. Recommendations include posterolateral cancellous bone grafting two weeks following wound closure by delayed primary closure, split-thickness skin graft, or local rotational myoplasty. A six-week delay following freely vascularized soft-tissue coverage prior to bone grafting is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Shock Trauma Center of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore 21201.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Blick
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Brumback
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lakatos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poka
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing