Open AccessTreatment of high-energy pilon fractures with external fixation as a method of minimal invasive approach - long term results
Author(s) -
Igor Kostić,
Milan Mitković,
Milorad B. Mitrović
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
acta chirurgica iugoslavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0887
pISSN - 0354-950X
DOI - 10.2298/aci1501057k
Subject(s) - medicine , pilon fracture , external fixation , surgery , traumatology , soft tissue , high energy , external fixator , tibia , reduction (mathematics) , fixation (population genetics) , orthopedic surgery , population , geometry , mathematics , engineering physics , environmental health , engineering
High energy pilon fractures present a unique challenge to the patient and orthopaedic surgeon. Care for the soft tissue envelope is as important as management of this articular fracture. This article present long term results of patients suffered type C pilon fractures treated with the method of external fixation with minimal invasive approach,. We observe a total of fifty five patients, between August 2008 and January 2015, underwent external fixation of type C pilon fractures with minimal invasive approach at Clinic of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, Clinical center Nis, Serbia. Infectious complications secondary to wound healing problems are a major concern after open surgery for pilon fracture. Therefore, soft-tissue management is critical for successful operative treatment of these fractures. According to our long term results in the present study, it seems that external fixation represent a rational approach to obtain and maintain alignment of the distal tibia through ligamentotaxis, thereby avoiding formal open reduction for treatment of the patient with severe pilon fracture.