[Internal and external fixation for open tibial fracture. Case presentation]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Management

Background:

• Accidents are the leading cause of complex lower limb injuries.
• Tibial fractures are the most common open long bone fractures.
• 100,000 cases of non-healing fractures occur annually.

Observation:

• A young female patient presented with a Gustilo III A open comminuted fracture of the proximal tibia.
• Multiple surgical debridements were performed to improve soft tissue condition.
• Internal fixation of large fragments was achieved using a cortical screw.

Findings:

• Professor Rodrigo Alvarez Cambras' external fixator was employed for fracture healing.
• A combined internal and external fixation strategy was utilized.
• This dual fixation method was applied to manage a complex tibial fracture.

Implications:

• The combined approach offers a potential solution for difficult tibial fractures.
• This technique may enhance healing rates in non-union cases.
• Further discussion on managing complex open tibial fractures is warranted.