title: Open tibial fractures treated by anterior half-pin frame fixation.
abstract: Forty-two open tibial fractures were treated with anterior half-pin frame fixation, weight bearing as tolerated, and early reconstruction of the soft tissue envelope. Thirty fractures were followed to completion of therapy. The infection rate was 7.1%, nonunion rate, 3.0%, and pin tract infection rate, 0.5%. Problems of malunion (23.3%) and of secondary fractures around lag screws (17.6%) may be reduced by early cancellous bone grafting and limited use of minimal internal fixation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Steinfield
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Cobelli
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Szporn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*