title: Single-incision approach improves wound healing and bone union for treating mid-to-lower segment of tibiofibular fracture.
abstract: The mid-to-lower segment of tibiofibular fractures (MLTFs) is commonly encountered in clinical practice, which is conventionally treated by the double-incision surgical approach. However, the double-incision approach frequently makes the closure of the wound extremely difficult and sometimes results in necrosis of skin around fractured sites. In the present study, our experience of using a single-incision surgical approach for treating MLTF was exhibited. From February 2005 to December 2013, the clinical outcomes of 212 patients with MLTFs who underwent either double-incision approach or single-incision approach were retrospectively evaluated and compared. Both groups were similar with respect to injury mechanism and all patients were followed up with the efficacies of treatment evaluated by Johner-Wruth criteria. The results demonstrated that the effective rate and the rate of excellent and good efficacy in the single-incision group were significantly higher than those in the double-incision group (P<0.05). In addition, the rates of skin wound healing and bone union after surgery in the single-incision group were significantly higher than those in the double-incision group (P<0.05). These findings indicate that the single-incision surgical approach, which holds the advantages of being milder in trauma, fewer in complications and better in function restoration, might be used as an alternative method for treating MLTFs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command/Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University/FGH Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Yongguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Basic Medical College, Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350004, China.
authors.forename: Yuehong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command/Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University/FGH Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Benhai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command/Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University/FGH Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command/Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University/FGH Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Jinshui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command/Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University/FGH Clinical College of Fujian Medical University Fuzhou 350025, China.
authors.forename: Songqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: Single incision; internal fixation; tibiofibular fractures