title: Pilon fracture: a case report of a 45-year-old dental technician.
abstract: Pilon fractures are complex and difficult-to-treat fractures of the lower extremity that account for about 1% of all lower extremity fractures and up to 10% of tibial fractures. The injury is caused by high energy axial load either from motor vehicle accidents or a fall from height. The treatment of these fractures has caused controversy among surgeons due to mixed outcomes. Here we report a case of pilon fracture in a 45 year old male patient who has sustained the injury as a result of a fall from a height of approximately 12 feet. We describe why it is absolutely crucial that the patient is treated with external fixation initially and evaluate its merits and drawbacks as well as ways to minimize the complications associated with external fixation of open intra-articular distal tibial fractures.
authors.affiliation: 1Hull York Medical School, Heslington, York, YO105DD, UK.
authors.forename: Pouya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mafi
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, York Teaching Hospital, YO31 8HE, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Plastic Surgery, Whiston Hospital, Merseyside, L35 5DR, UK.
authors.forename: Sandip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hindocha
authors.affiliation: 4Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, HU3 2JZ, UK.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mafi
keywords: External fixation; internal fixation; k-wire; open reduction.; pilon fracture