FACTA UNIVERSITATIS

Vol.13, No 3, 2006 pp. 145 - 147
UC 616.728.3-001-08

TIBIAL SHAFT FRACTURES TREATED
BY THE EXTERNAL FIXATION METHOD
Bratislav Stojković¹, Saša Milenković², Mile Radenković², Miodrag Stanojković², Igor Kostić²
¹Primary Health Care Facility Niš, Serbia
²Orthopaedic & Traumatology Clinic Niš, Serbia
E-mail: stojkovicbata@hotmail.com

Summary. The external fixation of tibial shaft fractures with Mitkovic's external fixator is a simple and effective method for everyday orthopaedic-traumatology praxis. The fixation is unilateral with convergent pins orientation (45- 90 degrees), and there is also possibility for compression and distraction. Pins are placed without any guidance. The result of external fixation in 49 patients with tibial shaft fractures, 30 (61.22%) men and 19 (38.77%) women, average age 43.92 years old (16-84), are presented in this work. The open tibial shaft fractures was 14 (28.57%). All fractures are treated with Mitkovic external fixator type M 20. The results applied external fixation method are excellent and good. Union rate was 83.68%. Pin tract infection appeared in 4 (8.16%) patients. In only 3 cases the external fixator was removed and treatment continued with application the functional braces. Nonunion rate was in 6 (12.24%) patients, of which 4 with opened fractures (two Gustilo type IIIB, one Gustilo type IIIA, one Gustilo type II) and 2 with the segment fractures. Compartment syndrome was observed in 1 (2.04%) patient with closed fracture. Malunion rate was in 2 (4.08%) patients. External fixation of tibial shaft fractures is a simple and effective method that enables the safe healing of the fractures, early mobilization of patients, early weight-bearing, as well as early rehabilitation.
Key words: External fixation, Tibial shaft fractures

SPOLJAŠNJA FIKSACIJA PRELOMA POTKOLENICE Kratak sadržaj: Spoljašnja fiksacija preloma potkolenice spoljašnjim fiksatorom po Mitkoviću je jednostavna i efikasna metoda za svakodnevnu ortopedsko- traumatološku praksu. Fiksacija je unilateralna sa konvergentnom orijentacijom klinova (45-90 stepeni), sa mogućstvom kompresije i distrakcije. Klinovi se plasiraju bez posebnih vodilica. Rezultati spoljašnje fiksacije kod 49 pacijenata sa prelomima potkolenice, 30 (61,22%) muškaraca i 19 (38,77%) žena, prosečne starosti 43,92 (16- 84) godine, su prikazani u ovom radu. Otvorenih preloma potkolenice je bilo 14 (28,57%). Svi prelomi su fiksirani pomoću spoljašnjeg fiksatora po Mitkoviću, tip M 20. Rezultati spoljašnje fiksacije su odlični i dobri. Procenat zarastanja preloma je iznosio 83,68%. Pin tract infekcija u toku nošenja spoljašnjeg fikatora je bila prisutna kod 4 (8,16%) pacijenata. Kod samo 3 pacijenta spoljašnji fiksator je skinut i lečenje nastavljeno aplikacijom funkcionalnog gipsa. Nezarastanje preloma je bilo prisutno kod 6 (12,24%) pacijenta, kod 4 sa otvorenim prelomom (2 Gustilo tip IIIB, 1 Gustilo tip IIIA, i 1 Gustilo tip II) i 2 pacijenta sa segmentnim prelomom potkolenice. Kompartment sindrom je dijagnostifikovan kod 1 (2,04%) pacijenta. Loše zarastanje je bilo prisutno kod 2 (4,08%) pacijenta. Spoljašnja fiksacija preloma potkolenice je jednostavna i efikasna metoda koja omogućava sigurno zarastanje preloma, ranu mobilizaciju, oslonac i ranu rehabilitaciju operisanih pacijenata.
Ključne reči: spoljašnja fiksacija, prelomi potkolenice