title: Stabilizing severely open fractures of the tibia with a surgical suture: an alternative and feasible method for osteosynthesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Outcomes concerning treatment of severely open fractures of the tibia have achieved great success with the advent of powerful antibiotics, superb microsurgery techniques, and advanced stabilization instruments. However, severe pollution in the wound and high comminution of the fragments may restrict application of internal or external fixators. The condition could appear more complicated if osteoporosis and polytrauma are present or if those special instruments are unavailable.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tried using a surgical suture to stabilize severely open fractures of the tibia in the elderly with osteoporosis. A 65-year-old woman with a severely open fracture of the tibia was treated with a surgical suture, and the result was satisfactory in early period. We discuss the new but traditional osteosynthesis method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A surgical suture osteosynthesis could act as an additional alternative when special fractures or conditions occur. Postoperative results in early period are satisfactory. Long-term results and clinical experience should be analyzed and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: You-Shui
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Shan-Zhu
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Chang-Qing
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mei
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001861:Bone Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013537:Sutures; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing