External fixation of tibial fractures at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape town.
The results of an 18-month prospective clinical trial of external fixation in the management of open tibial fractures at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, are reported. Liaison with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town has resulted in the development of significant improvements on the methods previously described. The value of external fixation in the management of tibial fractures is confirmed; problems encountered with this particular method are described.
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D001858:Bone Nails; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing