title: Primary free-flap cover of open tibial fractures.
abstract: Seventeen consecutive patients with Grade IIIB open tibial fractures had definitive treatment of both the fracture and soft tissues performed within 72 h of injury. Free tissue transfer was used for cover in each case. There were no cases of deep infection. Flap survival was 100 per cent. The mean time to fracture healing was 10 months, and mean time to walking unaided was 12 months. The average length of stay in hospital was 82 days. The findings suggest that immediate radical debridement followed by adequate soft tissue cover is a safe and effective method for treating these severe injuries.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Unit, Ulster Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sinclair
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Yeates
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*