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Complications of definitive open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures of the distal tibia
- Publication Year :
- 2010
- Publisher :
- Springer-Verlag, 2010.
-
Abstract
- A series of 49 pilon fractures in a tertiary referral centre treated definitively by open reduction and internal fixation have been assessed and the complications of such injuries examined. A retrospective analysis of case notes, radiographs and computerised tomographs over a seven-year period from 1999–2006 was performed. Infection was the most common postoperative problem. There were seven cases of superficial infection. There was a single case of deep infection requiring intravenous antibiotics and removal of metalwork. Other notable complications were those of secondary osteoarthritis (three cases) and malunion (one case). The key finding of this paper is the 2% incidence of deep infection following the direct operative approach to these fractures. The traditional operative approach to such injuries (initially advocated by Ruedi and Allgower in Injury 2:92–99, 1969) consisted of extensive soft tissue dissection to gain access to the distal tibia. Our preferred method is to access the tibia via the “direct approach” which involves direct access to the fracture site with minimal disturbance of the soft tissue envelope. We therefore believe that open reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures via the direct approach to be a safe technique in the treatment of such devastating injuries.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Adolescent
medicine.medical_treatment
External fixation
Fracture Fixation, Internal
Fractures, Open
Young Adult
Fracture fixation
Osteoarthritis
Medicine
Internal fixation
Humans
Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
Surgical Wound Infection
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Tibia
Malunion
Fractures, Malunited
Reduction (orthopedic surgery)
Aged
Retrospective Studies
Original Paper
business.industry
Soft tissue
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Surgery
Radiography
Tibial Fractures
Orthopedic surgery
Female
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....e75a7e099ed5980bd30aac03179d3f4d