Treatment of 103 displaced tibial diaphyseal fractures with a radiolucent unilateral external fixator.
OBJECTIVE
The authors report their experience in the treatment of the diaphyseal tibial fractures, using the unilateral radiolucent External Fixator (EF) XCaliber.


METHODS
A total of 100 patients (average age 35 years, range 16-76) with 103 displaced diaphyseal tibial fractures were treated with the XCaliber. There were 59 type A fractures, 35 type B, and 9 type C (according to the AO classification) and 35 were open fractures.


METHODS
During the last assessment, patients were evaluated for level of pain, ability to perform weight-bearing activities, and number of residual deformities.


RESULTS
The average follow-up time was 24 months, 3 patients (4 fractures) were excluded for final assessment and 1 patient moved abroad. Of the remaining 98 fractures, 83 (84.7%) healed with a single operation in a mean 21 weeks (SD 3.97; 12-38 weeks), 10 fractures had a delayed union and 5 fractures proceeded to a non-union. There were 13 complications. Among them, a loss of reduction was observed in 3 cases due to overload of the EF, in 3 cases, deep pin track infections were observed and 2 fractures healed with more than 1 cm of shortening.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are encouraging, since both complex and open fractures were included in this study. The XCaliber was shown to be a valid unilateral external fixator, combining the advantage of radiolucency during application and radioscopic follow-up with a stable and flexible fracture fixation. This represents the first report in the literature specifically examining treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures with a radiolucent external fixator.
Dall'Oca
C
C
Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Verona GB Rossi Hospital, Italy. carlo.dalloca@univr.it
Christodoulidis
A
A
Bortolazzi
R
R
Bartolozzi
P
P
Lavini
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018483:Diaphyses / Q000293:injuries; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult