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Original Article
Comminuted Pilon Fractures: Comparative Outcome Analysis according to Surgical Techniques
You-Jin Kim, M.D., Hong-Geun Jung, M.D., Ph.D., Joo-Hong Lee, M.D., Woo-Sup Byun, M.D., Sung-Tae Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2007;20(1):6-12.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2007.20.1.6
Published online: June 14, 2016

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.

*Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Hong-Geun Jung, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 4-12, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, Korea. Tel: 82-2-2030-7609, Fax: 82-2-2030-7630, jungfoot@hanmail.net

Copyright © The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved

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  • Purpose
    To evaluate the overall surgical outcome of the tibial pilon comminuted fractures and perform the comparative analysis between the limited internal fixation-external fixation group and the delayed open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF) group.
  • Materials and Methods
    From June 1997 to June 2004, 17 tibial pilon comminuted fractures were treated with the limited internal fixation-external fixation (6 cases) or the delayed open reduction-internal fixation (11 cases). The average age of the patients was 47.7 years (range: 41~63 years), male was fourteen patients, female was three. Follow-up period was average 33.6 months (range: 12~84 months). The clinical outcomes were evaluated by using AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and patient satisfaction was also evaluated.
  • Results
    AOFAS score at final follow-up was 80.4 points, and 88% of the patients were satisfied with the results. AOFAS scores of the external fixation group and the delayed ORIF group were average 77.0 points and 82.2 points respectively, which did not show the statistical difference (p>0.05). Bony union was achieved at average 16.0 weeks. There were 18 complications such as skin necrosis.
  • Conclusion
    We have achieved relatively encouraging functional results and high patient satisfaction for pilon comminuted fractures, without significant result difference between the two surgical techniques.
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Fig. 1

(A) This 43 year-old male had a fall injury and sustained a Ruedi-Allgower type III open pilon fracture.

(B) The CT scan shows severe comminution of tibia plafond with displaced articular fragments.
(C) The fracture was treated by external fixation and minimal internal fixation with multiple screws.
(D) At postoperative 15 months, the patient complained of ankle pain due to traumatic arthritis with AOFAS score 64 points.
jkfs-20-6-g001.jpg
Fig. 2

(A) Initial radiograph shows type III severely comminuted pilon fracture of a 42 year-old male.

(B) As the 1st stage treatment, the pilon fracture was realigned and stabilized by external monofixator, with the fibular fracture being fixed with plate and screw.
(C) Coronal and sagittal images of CT scan show displaced articular fragments of the tibia plafond.
(D) Two weeks since 1st operation, open reduction and internal fixation with dual plate were performed with allogenic bone graft. At postoperative 12 months, the patient showed stiff ankle with mild degree pain and final AOFAS score of 85 points.
jkfs-20-6-g002.jpg
Table 1

Distribution of open fractures and soft tissue injury patterns in closed fractures

jkfs-20-6-i001.jpg

*LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation.

Table 2

Associated injuries

jkfs-20-6-i002.jpg
Table 3

Demographic data of the patients

jkfs-20-6-i003.jpg

*MVA: Motor vehicle accident, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation, LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, §v. satisfied: Very satisfied, MRSA: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, CRPS: Complex regional pain syndrome.

Table 4

Postoperative complications

jkfs-20-6-i004.jpg

Figure & Data

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    • The Result of Using an Additional Mini-Locking Plate for Tibial Pilon Fractures
      Suenghwan Jo, Jun Young Lee, Boseon Kim, Kang Hyeon Ryu
      Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2017; 30(2): 75.     CrossRef

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      Comminuted Pilon Fractures: Comparative Outcome Analysis according to Surgical Techniques
      J Korean Fract Soc. 2007;20(1):6-12.   Published online January 31, 2007
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    Comminuted Pilon Fractures: Comparative Outcome Analysis according to Surgical Techniques
    Image Image
    Fig. 1 (A) This 43 year-old male had a fall injury and sustained a Ruedi-Allgower type III open pilon fracture. (B) The CT scan shows severe comminution of tibia plafond with displaced articular fragments. (C) The fracture was treated by external fixation and minimal internal fixation with multiple screws. (D) At postoperative 15 months, the patient complained of ankle pain due to traumatic arthritis with AOFAS score 64 points.
    Fig. 2 (A) Initial radiograph shows type III severely comminuted pilon fracture of a 42 year-old male. (B) As the 1st stage treatment, the pilon fracture was realigned and stabilized by external monofixator, with the fibular fracture being fixed with plate and screw. (C) Coronal and sagittal images of CT scan show displaced articular fragments of the tibia plafond. (D) Two weeks since 1st operation, open reduction and internal fixation with dual plate were performed with allogenic bone graft. At postoperative 12 months, the patient showed stiff ankle with mild degree pain and final AOFAS score of 85 points.
    Comminuted Pilon Fractures: Comparative Outcome Analysis according to Surgical Techniques

    Distribution of open fractures and soft tissue injury patterns in closed fractures

    *LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation.

    Associated injuries

    Demographic data of the patients

    *MVA: Motor vehicle accident, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation, LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, §v. satisfied: Very satisfied, MRSA: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, CRPS: Complex regional pain syndrome.

    Postoperative complications

    Table 1 Distribution of open fractures and soft tissue injury patterns in closed fractures

    *LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation.

    Table 2 Associated injuries

    Table 3 Demographic data of the patients

    *MVA: Motor vehicle accident, ORIF: Open reduction and internal fixation, LIF+EF: Limited internal fixation with external fixation, §v. satisfied: Very satisfied, MRSA: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, CRPS: Complex regional pain syndrome.

    Table 4 Postoperative complications


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