Result of Treatment of Open Tibial Fracture with Hoffmann External Fixator

Lee, Young Sik; Yang, Han Sol; Choi, Kyung Soo; Cho, Shin Kang

Abstract

Recently, tibial shaft fractures become more severe because of high speed traffic accidents. The open tibial fracture is a difficult one to treat because of its common complications such as infection, soft tissue defect, delayed union and non-union. We studied 37 cases of open tibial fractures which were treated with external fixation. The results are as follows: 1. The average patient age was 29.3 years and male predominated by a ratio of 4.3: l. 2. The traffic accidents were the most common cause of injury. 3. Most cases(67.6%) were type III fracture(by classification of Gustilo and Anderson). 4. Hoffmann external fixator gave rigid fixation and good wound access. 5. There were 28 cases(75.7%) which needed secondary soft tissue reconstruction. 6. The infection rate was 21.5%(8 cases). These all healed with conservative management. There were 5 cases of pin tract infection which healed without developing osteitis. 7. The average union time was 28.7 weeks. In type III fracture there was marked delay in union (average 32.1 weeks). 8. The rate of development of delayed or non-union was 35.1%. In these cases, bony union was obtained with cancellous bone graft.