title: [External skeletal fixation of the tibial shaft fractures].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the possibility of a succesfful use of external skelatal fixation in treating the open and closed tibial shaft fractures with Mitković's external fixator.
  
  
  METHODS
  External fixation was used in 115 patients with 118 fresh tibial shaft fractures, 82 males (71.3%) and 33 females (28.7%), average age 43.92 years (16-84). Open tibial shaft fractures were present in 37 (31.36%). All the fractures were treated with Mitković's external fixator type M 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of external fixation were excellent or good in 94.07% of the cases, and bad in 5.08%. Pin tract infection appeared in 7 (5.93%) patients. In only 3 cases an external fixator was removed and treatment continued with the functional braces. Nonunion occurred in 6 (5.08%) patients, of which 4 were with open fractures (2 Gustilo type IIIB, 1 Gustilo type IIIA, 1 Gustilo type II) and 2 with the segment fractures. Compartment syndrome was observed in 1 (0.85%) patient with closed fracture. Malunion was found in 2 (1.69%) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External fixation of tibial shaft fractures is a simple and effective method to enable the safe healing of fractures, early mobilization of the patients, early weight-bearing, as well as early rehabilitation. Fixation of tibial shaft fractures was unilateral with convergent pins orientation, and there was also a possibility of compression and distraction.
authors.forename: Sasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milenković
authors.forename: Milorad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitković
authors.forename: Mile
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radenković
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*