title: Functional outcome of patients with salvageable limbs with grades III-B and III-C open fractures of the tibia.
abstract: Numerous reports list predictive criteria to determine whether Gustilio-type tibial III-B and III-C fractures of the tibia are salvageable. What is lacking are long-term reports of comprehensive functional outcome of these severe injuries. We evaluated the functional outcome of patients with our own seven-scale score. Fifty-four patients with 57 types III-B (n = 41) and III-C (n = 16) open tibial fractures sustained between 1980 and 1989 were recalled for evaluation. There were 45 men and 9 women (average age, 28.4 years; range, 4-68 years). Follow-up periods averaged 48.2 months (range, 12-116 months). Salvage rate for the III-B fractures was 75% (n = 31) and for the III-C fractures 37% (n = 6). We conclude that the functional score is a simple and complete method for assessing the functional outcome of patients undergoing limb salvage procedures.
authors.affiliation: Christine M. Kleinert Institute for Hand and Micro Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY., USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Puno
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Grossfeld
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seligson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harkess
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005528:Foot / Q000502:physiology; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000209:etiology; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012677:Sensation; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014110:Touch; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration