PURPOSE We tried to compare the results of Ilizarov external fixation cases with the cases of secondary intramedullary nailing after tempory Ilizarov fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS From the January 1996 to February 2001 , 34 cases of severe open tibial shaft fracture in adults were treated with Ilizarov external fixation and secondary intramedullary nailing after temporary Ilizarov fixation. According to Gustilo- Anderson classification, it consisted of type II 2 ,IIIA 7 ,IIIB 9 ,IIIC 2cases in Ilizarov group ,and type II 2, IIIA 7, IIIB 5cases in secondary intramedullary nailing group. RESULT There was no significant difference in the union time of Ilizarov external fixation and secondary intramedullary nailing after temporary Ilizarov fixation. But the secondary nailed group had slightly better motion , less final angulation and felt more comfortable . It is the treatment preferred by patients and does not require the same high level of patient compliance as external fixation. CONCLUSION Secondary intramedullary nailing after temporary Ilizarov fixation is the useful method in the treatment of open fractures of tibia.
External skeletal fixation is used widely in the management of open or closed tibial fractures, but delayed healing is common. There is concern that this might be due not only due to the severity of injury but also to the mechanical conditions imposed at the fracture site by the fixator. Since fractures treated by external skeletal fixation can rarely be reduced to perception nor held with absolute stability, union occurs by indirect healing, which is acutely sensitive to both the charactericstics and timing of mechanical stimulation. So, the achivevment of the optimum mechanical environment is particularly important where delay in bone healing is likely. Ilizarov external fixator is useful in treating open fractures of the tibial shaft because it permits axial micromotion which enhances bridging callus formation with stable fixation as well as its complications such as infected nonunion or limb length discrepancy. The impared healing with external fixation is often caused by wrong surgical technique, such as distraction of fracture fragments by fixation device. Sequential compression at fracture site may overcome any fracture gap in external skeletal fixation and also enhance endosteal bone formation. We applied sequential compression forces at the fracture site in 18 open fractures of the tibial shaft, trated by Ilizarov external fixator with or without autogenous bone grafting. Sequential compression technique is composed of initial compression with 1 mm/wk for 4 weeks and then compression 1 mm/10 days until adequate apposition of cortex and callus formation in radiograph. We acquired successful bony union in all cases except one which had additional bone grafting in open fractures of the tibial shaft by sequential compression technique using Ilizarov device.
In general, severe open fractures of the tibial shaft have been treated initially with external fixation. However, despite many refinements in this technique, it has been associated with numerous complications, including problems at the sites of pins, non-union, delayed union, malunion, and infection. The purpose of this retrospective study is to analyze the results in a consecutive series of patients. There were 8 males and 2 females with an average age of the 44.9 years(range, 26-64 years). The mean follow up period was 23.2 nibtgs(range, 34-120 days). Free flap procedures were performed on all patients. The average time between removal of the fixator and intramedullary nailing was 16.5 days(range, 11-26 days). Indication of conversion to nailing was abscence of any serous discharge, reddness or local heating around pin-sites and normal renge of laboratory data. All 10 fractures had united with additional bone graft in 7 cases. The most frequent complications were delayed union in 7 cases and infection(superficial infection: 6 cases, osteomyelitis: 1 case) after IM nailing. We concluded that pin-tract infection is the major cause of infection after IM nail, but duration of external fixation and time interval(between removal of external fixator and nailing) are not isolated factors.
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