title: Treatment of ipsilateral high energy tibial plateau and calcaneal fractures by a circular wire fixator: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High energy tibial plateau fractures along with calcaneal fractures individually produce several challenges for the orthopaedic surgeon. The principles of bony reconstruction include anatomic reduction and rigid internal fixation of intra-articular fractures and accurate restoration of the coronal, sagittal and transverse mechanical axes. Due to the tenuous nature of the soft tissue and devitalisation of the comminuted fragments with open reduction, external fixation of type 6 tibial plateau fractures is recommended. We report a case with ipsilateral high energy tibial plateau and calcaneal fractures both of which were managed with an ilizarov ring fixator.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 55-year-old Kashmiri female presented to our department with an ipsilateral fracture of the tibial plateau and the calcaneum. Both were closed reduced and stabilized with an ilizarov ring fixator.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The circular wire fixator provides a viable method to manage such fractures especially if they are co existent. This is especially true in situations where the soft tissue is compromised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir India. shabirdhar@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Shabir Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.forename: Mohammed Farooq
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.forename: Murtaza Fazal
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Mohammed Ramzan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mir
authors.forename: Altaf Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kawoosa