Treatment of Tibial Fractures with the Ilizarov Method

Song, Hae Ryong; Cho, Se Hyun; Koo, Kyung Hoi; Park, Hyung Bin; Jung, Yeon Cheon; Hwang, Sun Cheol; Kim, Jai Soo; Kim, Byoung Suck; Park, Ye Soo

Abstract

Between 1987 and 1992, 86 tibial fractures were treated with the Ilizarov external fixator at Gyeong-Sang National University Hospital and Okpo Hospital. The mean follow-up period was 31.4 months. Sixty-six were open fractures and twenty were closed fractures with severe comminution. In 66 open fractures, there were 9 Gustilo type I, 10 type II, and 47 type III fractures. Of 66 open fractures, 22 had bone defects ranged from 2cm to 17cm and 16 had extensive loss of soft tissue. Twenty-two bone defects were treated with cancellous bone grafts in 8 cases, bifocal osteosynthesis with bone graft in 12 cases, and trifocal osteosynthesis with bone graft in 2 cases. Thirty-four extensive soft tissue defects were treated with split-thickness skin graft, musculocutaneous flap, soft tissue transportation with ring used in bifocal, trifocal osteosynthesis, and acute shortening of fracture site. Of 20 closed fractures, 14 were treated with cancellous bone graft for decreasing union time and 6 were treated with monofocal compression without bone graft. The mean time to union was 20.5 weeks in closed fractures, and 35.4 weeks in open fractures. Of 40 complications, 12 were knee and ankle joint contractures, 12 were soft tissue and bone infections of pin tract, 5 were refracture, 5 were angular deformities of 10 degree or more, 5 were delayed union, and 2 were nonunion. According to Tucker's classification, the results were graded as excellent in 31, good in 38, fair in 12, and poor in 5 cases. Primary or secondary bone graft is necessary for early bony union and anatomical reduction combined with bone graft could prevent the complications of delayed union and nonunion.