[Treatment of type II and III open tibial fractures with Ilizarov external fixation].
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the results of patients who were treated with Ilizarov external fixation for type II and III open tibial fractures.


METHODS
Forty-five patients (4 females, 41 males; mean age 33 years; range 8 to 65 years) with open tibial fractures were treated with the Ilizarov external fixator. According to the Gustilo-Mendoza classification, the fractures were type II, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC in 12, 20, 9, and 4 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up was 58 months and 4 days (range 42 months and 10 days to 66 months and 11 days). The fixators were applied for a mean of 17.2 weeks (range 6.8 to 55.7 weeks).


RESULTS
Union was achieved in all cases. A significant difference was observed between type II and III fractures in terms of time to union (p<0.05). Compared to type IIIA fractures, the time to union was significantly longer in type IIIB and IIIC fractures (p<0.05). The most frequent complication was pin-tract infections (27.1%). Refracture occurred in four cases (8.8%). Three patients developed late infections at the fracture site. Radiographically, the results were excellent in 14 patients (31%), good in 22 patients (48.8%), moderate in five patients (11.1%), and poor in four patients (8.8%). Functional results were excellent in 21 patients (46.6%), good in 20 patients (44.4%), and moderate in four patients (8.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite technical difficulties and problems associated with pin-tract infections, the Ilizarov external fixator may be the preferred technique in open tibial fractures because of high union rates, the use of thin K-wires with minimal traumatic effect, and more successful functional results.
Inan
Muharrem
M
Inönü Universitesi Tip Fakültesi Turgut Ozal Tip Merkezi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dali, Turkey. muharreminan@hotmail.com
Tuncel
Mehmet
M
Karaoğlu
Sinan
S
Halici
Mehmet
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D018889:Ilizarov Technique; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome