TY - JOUR ID - 39808 TI - Treatment of Open Tibial Fractures: Convert-ing or Continuing External Fixation? JO - Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences JA - IJMS LA - en SN - 0253-0716 AU - Tabatabai, Saaid AU - Hosseini, E. AD - Y1 - 2008 PY - 2008 VL - 33 IS - 1 SP - 7 EP - 11 KW - External fixation KW - conversion KW - union DO - N2 - Background: The treatment of open tibial fractures is still an orthopaedic challenge and full of complications. In many cases the use of external fixator that has been known as a non-union machine is obligatory with a high incidence of pin track infection and other complications. The aim of this study was to compare the use of external fixation as a definite method for treatment of open tibial fractures with its subsequent conversion to internal fixation or casting. Methods: Sixty-seven young patients with type III open tibial fractures (Gustilo-Anderson classification) were treated with half pin external fixation. Twenty of them were converted into internal fixation after a period of 6-8 weeks. For another twenty-five, external fixator was removed and treatment continued with casting for a period lasting from 16 to 20 weeks. And for twenty two patients the fixator continued until complete union. The patients followed up for 10-16 months and were evaluated in terms of union time, union rate, infection, range of motion, malunion, non-union, nerve injury, and reduction. Results: There was a meaningful difference only in the union time and superficial infection between the first group and the other two groups. Conclusion: The conversion of external to internal fixation can be considered as a safe, effective, less complicated, and more acceptable method for the treatment of open tibial fractures. UR - https://ijms.sums.ac.ir/article_39808.html L1 - https://ijms.sums.ac.ir/article_39808_859c211889b8275e9cf1451cd34fd298.pdf ER -