Clinical Study Of Unilateral Multi-functional External Fixator For Tibial-fibular Fracture

Objective:To investigate factors affecting the effects of unilateral multi-functional external fixator(UMEF) in tibial-fibular fractures, and their corresponding methods.Methods:262 cases of tibial-fibular fractures who had been treated with the UMEF(Zhong-Jia medical instrument factory, zhejiang, in our research ) in recent five years were reviewed. To investigate various of factors affecting the effects of UMEF in tibial-fibular fractures, including mechanical stability of external fixators itself , methods of fractures reduction(close reduction or limited incision) , additional internal fixation or not, methods and skills of operation in using external fixators , dynamic or not et, al.Results:(1)There are 13 cases showing signs of re-dislocation in 262 cases, 12 of re-dislocated case are unstable fractures.(2)In 123 cases of closed fractures, 22 cases were treated by close reduction and the average healing time was 7.3 months (6-11 months) ; 101Clinical research of unilateral muti-fuctional external fixators for tibial-fibular fractures Abstractcases by limited incision and the average healing time was 5.2 months (3-9.5 months) (P<0.01) .(3) In 219 cases of unstable fractures, 105 cases were treated by additional internal fixation and their average healing time was 5 months (3-9.5 months) ; the average healing time of the other 141 cases with no additional internal fixation was 6.3 months (5.5-12 months) (PO.01) .(4) In 262 cases, 201 cases were dynamied and their average healing time was 5.4 months (3-8.5 months) ; the others average healing time was 7 months (4-11.5 months) (PO.01) .(5) There are 34 case with bone-nonunion, 25 case with pin infection and 11 case with pin loose in 262 cases.Conclusion:l.The defects of UMEF in the stability were found in current studies.2.Anatomical reduction can be accomplished by limited incision, it can shorten the healing time remarkablely and make operation easy and quick.3. Using additional internal fixation (screw or wire) in unstable fractures, the fixed stability of UMEF will be increased and the healing time will be shortened.4.The mechanical rigidity of UMEF and the fixed stability of fractures can be increased by methods and skills of operation in using external fixators.Clinical research of unilateral muti-fiictional external fixators for tibial-fibular fractures Abstract5. UMEF can be adjusted to dynamy in time, which is helpful for the bone healing.