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TITLE: Two-staged delayed open reduction and internal fixation of severe pilon fractures.
AUTHORS: Patterson MJ; Cole JD
AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Florida 32804, USA.
SOURCE: J Orthop Trauma 1999 Feb;13(2):85-91
CITATION IDS: PMID: 10052781 UI: 99160146
ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a two-staged technique for the treatment of C3 pilon fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Level I trauma center. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one consecutive patients with twenty-two C3 pilon fractures. Patients with C1 or C2 fractures and patients with open growth plates were excluded. INTERVENTION: All patients underwent immediate fibular fixation and placement of a medial spanning external fixator. After, on average, twenty-four days, patients underwent removal of the external fixator and formal open reduction and internal fixation of the pilon fractures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: At average follow-up of twenty-two months, all patients were evaluated by using subjective, objective, and radiographic measurements as described by Burwell and Chamley (J Bone Joint Surg 1965;47B:634-659). Range of motion and postoperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-one of the twenty-two fractures healed within an average of 4.2 months. Average range of motion was 7 degrees of dorsiflexion, 33 degrees of plantar flexion, 17 degrees of eversion, and 11 degrees of inversion. Subjective and objective measurements showed 77 percent good results, 14 percent fair results, and 9 percent poor results. Radiographic reduction showed 73 percent anatomic and 27 percent fair reductions. There were no infections or soft tissue complications. The arthrodesis rate was 9 percent. CONCLUSIONS: A two-staged approach offers acceptable results for the treatment of severe pilon fractures. These results compare favorably with those of primary open reduction and of internal fixation and external fixation techniques. The major advantages include limited soft tissue complications and improved articular reconstruction.
MAIN MESH HEADINGS: Ankle Injuries/*surgery
Fracture Fixation, Internal/*methods
Tibial Fractures/*surgery
ADDITIONAL MESH HEADINGS: Adult
Aged
Ankle Injuries/radiography
External Fixators
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation
Fracture Healing/physiology
Human
Injury Severity Score
Male
Middle Age
Range of Motion, Articular
Retrospective Studies
Tibial Fractures/radiography
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
1999/03
1999/03 03:04
PUBLICATION TYPES: JOURNAL ARTICLE
LANGUAGES: Eng