TO EVALUATE THE OUTCOME OF ELASTIC NAILING ALONG WITH EXTERNAL FIXATOR IN OPEN TIBIA FRACTURES

Background: Open tibial fractures account for over 40% of all open fractures and are frequently accompanied by significant damage to soft tissues, including skin, muscle, and neurovascular structures . This article presents a intramedullary(TENS)- and external fixator technique. The purpose of this study is TO EVALUATE THE OUTCOME OF ELASTIC NAILING ALONG WITH EXTERNAL FIXATOR IN OPEN TIBIA FRACTURES .

Materials and Methods: Following ethical approval, thirty patients with tibial fractures were treated by the EF-TENs system between NOVEMBER 2019 and SEPTEMBER 2021. The follow-up studies included clinical and radiographic examinations. All relevant outcomes were recorded during follow-up.

Results: All 30 patients were assessed by follow-ups. According to the Anderson-Gustilo classification, there were 19 Type Grade II, 6 Type Grade IIIA and 5 Type Grade IIIB. All thirty patients were achieved follow-ups. All follow-up fractures united at last, but delayed union was observed in 5/30 patients. The average union time is 23.83+_4.47 weeks (range, 18–32 weeks). The main complication mentioned in this study was pin track infection, which occupied 6/30 cases. According to Johner–Wruhscriteriaof tibial shaft fractures, 19 fractures had excellent, 5 had good, 5 had fair and 1 had poor results.

Conclusion: This study indicated that the outcome of elastic nailing along with external fixator , as a definitive intra- and extramedullary fixation technique, which was effective in treatment of open tibial fractures.