Intra-articular fractures of the distal tibia: the pilon fracture.
Forty-two patients with pilon fractures were followed 24 to 96 (mean, 53) months post-fracture. Fractures were classified as Type I (26%), Type II (29%), or Type III (45%) as defined by Ruedi and Allgower. Type I fractures were usually torsional in nature whereas Type II and III injures were usually the result of a fall from a height or motor vehicle accident. Type I and II pilon fractures were amenable to anatomic open reduction and stable internal fixation and 80% or more had satisfactory results. Only 44% of Type III fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation produced a satisfactory outcome. Nonanatomic reduction, unstable fixation, infection, nonunion, and/or angulation were the usual causes of failure of this form of treatment.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*