Abstract

• Twenty one comminuted fractures of the proximal tibia in 21 patients were treated with Ilizarov external fixator from May 1990 to May 1996 in Pusan City Medical Center. The average duration of external fixation was 17weeks, and all of the fractures healed without bone graft. The mean time to union was 18weeks in closed comminuted fractures, and 21 weeks in Gustilo type I, II open fractures. The complications with this technique were pin tract infection 3 cases, pin loosening 6 cases, septic arthritis 1 case, post-traumatic osteoathritis 1 case, and joint ankylosis 1 case. The average duration of follow up was 18 months. The range of knee motion of 19 cases of the the 21 patients was at least 115-degrees arc. Post-operative immediate exercise was possible, and partial weight bearing with crutch was also possible after post-operative 4 weeks. We concluded that Ilizarov external fixation is a satisfactory technique for the treatment of selected comminuted fractures of the proximal tibia.
• Key words: Proximal tibia, Comminuted fractures, Ilizarov external fixator

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