title: Metaphyseal locking plate as an external fixator for open tibial fracture: Clinical outcomes and biomechanical assessment.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of using a metaphyseal locking plate as a definitive external fixator for treating open tibial fractures based on biomechanical experiments and analysis of clinical results.
  
  
  
  A metaphyseal locking plate was used as an external fixator in 54 open tibial fractures in 52 patients. The mean follow-up was 38 months (range, 20-52 months). Moreover, static axial compression and torsional tests were performed to evaluate the strength of the fixation techniques.
  
  
  
  The average fracture healing time was 34.5 weeks (range, 12-78 weeks). At 4 weeks postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the average Hospital for Special Surgery knee score was 85 (range, 81-100) and 94 (range, 88-100), respectively, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score was 88 (range, 80-100) and 96 (range, 90-100), respectively. Based on the static test result, the axial stiffness was significantly different among groups (p=0.002), whereas the torsional stiffness showed no significant difference (p=0.068).
  
  
  
  Clinical outcomes show that the use of locking plate as a definitive external fixator is an alternative choice for tibial fractures after obtaining appropriate fracture reduction. However, external locked plating constructs were not as strong as standard locked plating constructs. Therefore, the use of external locked plating constructs as a definitive treatment warrants further biomechanical study for construct strength improvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Hou
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jiun-Ru
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Kun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: tslin@isu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ting-Sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001860:Bone Plates; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biomechanical assessment; External fixator; Locking plate; Open tibial fracture