Unilateral external fixation until healing with the dynamic axial fixator for severe open tibial fractures

One hundred one cases of open tibia fractures were treated until healing with a unilateral external fixation device that permits fracture site compression with weight bearing. There were 38 type II and 63 type III (24 IIIA, 33 IIIB, six IIIC) open fractures. A standard protocol was followed including irrigation and debridement and, when necessary, flap coverage (19 cases) and bone grafting (31 cases). Fixators were applied at the first debridement and removed when the fracture was healed. All patients were permitted early partial weight bearing and progressed to full weight bearing with fixator dynamization. Ninety-six cases healed in the fixator (12-50 weeks; average, 24.6). Three of the five failures were associated with screw complications. Five patients required screw changes and 29 required oral antibiotic therapy for screw complications. Ninety-five percent of healed cases had angulation of less than 10 degrees (in any plane). There were only six fracture site infections during the course of treatment. Dynamic axial fixation may be applied at the first debridement and be used until healing in severe open tibia fractures. Change of the fixator to another treatment method is not required.