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Objective: To compare the effect of internal fixation vs. external fixation after debridement in stage I of the Masquelet technique for Cierny-Mader (C-M) type Ⅳ chronic post-traumatic tibial osteomyelitis.Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients with tibial osteomyelitis who underwent staged treatment with the Masquelet technique between January 2016 and June 2020 at the 920 Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of the PLA. The patients were grouped according to the fixation they received after stage I. Infection recurrence, time to radiological bone healing and full weight-bearing, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) score, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Knee Score, and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score were compared.Results: Sixty-three patients were included (50 males and 13 females). There were 40 and 23 patients with internal and external fixation, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the preoperative and intraoperative data (all P>0.05). After stage I operation, the infection control rates were 85.0% and 82.6% in the internal and external fixation groups (P=0.803), and these rates were 92.5% and 95.7% after stage II (P=0.621). There were no differences in the SAS scores (P=0.278), time to radiological union (P=0.795), time to full weight-bearing (P=0.725), AOFAS scores (P=0.302), HSS scores (P=0.085), and complication rates (P=0.593). There were 27 times complications in 19 patients, with an incidence of 42.9%, without significant differences between groups.Conclusion: There were no differences between the two fixation methods after debridement in stage I of the Masquelet technique for C-M type Ⅳ chronic post-traumatic tibia osteomyelitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid external fixators are useful for the management of complex tibial plateau and plafond fractures, as they provide rigid fixation with relatively minimal soft tissue disruption. We reviewed the outcomes of patients with proximal (plateau) and distal (plafond) tibial fractures who were treated with hybrid frames at the Royal North Shore Hospital from 1998 to 2001. Twenty-four patients were identified from the hospital operating records and chart, X-ray and clinical reviews were performed. Follow-up periods averaged 13 months. Fractures were classified using the Ruedi classification for ankle fractures, and the Schatzker classification for the knee fractures. Clinical outcome was assessed using the Iowa knee score and the AOFAS ankle score. As one of the first Australian audits our outcomes were consistent with international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Surgical management of calcaneus fractures is technically demanding and has a high risk of wound complications. These fractures are traditionally managed with splinting until swelling has subsided, which can take weeks and leaves the fracture fragments displaced. We describe a novel protocol for the management of displaced intraarticular calcaneus fractures that utilises a temporising external fixator and staged conversion to plate fixation through a sinus tarsi approach. The goal of this technique was to enable earlier treatment with open reduction and internal fixation, minimise the amount of manipulation required at the time of definitive fixation and reduce the wound complication rate seen with the traditional extensile approach.Methods: The records of patients with displaced calcaneus fractures from 2010-2014 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of nine patients with 10 calcaneus fractures were treated using this protocol. All patients underwent ankle-spanning medial external fixation within 48 hours after injury. Patients underwent conversion to open plate fixation through a sinus tarsi approach when skin turgor had returned to normal. Time to surgery, infection rate, wound complications, radiographic alignment, and time to radiographic union were recorded.Results: The average Bohler's angle improved from 13.2 (range -2 to 34) degrees preoperatively to 34.3 (range 26 to 42) degrees postoperatively. The average time from external fixation to conversion to internal fixation was 4.8 (range 3 to 7) days. There were no immediate post-surgical complications. The average time to weight-bearing was 8.5 weeks. The average time to radiographic union was 9.5 (range 8 to 12) weeks. There were no infections or wound complications at the time of last follow-up.Conclusion: Early temporising external fixation for the acute management of displaced calcaneus fractures is a safe and effective method to reduce and stabilise the foot and may decrease the time to definitive fixation. There were no complications related to the use of the external fixator in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]