The acute management of Pilon fractures (ENFORCE) study: a national evaluation of practice

Pilon fractures are potentially limb-threating injuries. Staged soft tissue damage control is described, but actual practices are unknown. We report a national trainee collaborative evaluating how tibial Pilon fractures are acutely managed.

ENFORCE was a multicentre retrospective observational study of the acute management of tibial Pilon fractures over a three-year period. Mechanism of injury, imaging, fracture classification, time to cast application, soft tissue damage control strategy and definitive management details were determined.

A total of 656 patients (670 fractures) across 27 centres were reported. AO fracture classifications were: partial articular (n=294) and complete articular (n=376). Initial diagnostic imaging mobilities were plain radiographs (n=602) and a trauma computed tomography (CT) scan (n=54). A total of 526 fractures had a cast applied in the emergency department (91 before radiological diagnosis), with the times taken to obtain postcast imaging being: mean 2.7 hours, median 2.3 hours and range 28 minutes-14 hours. 35% (102/294) of partial articular and 57% (216/376) of complete articular fractures had a spanning external fixator applied, all of which underwent a planning CT scan. Definitive management consisted of open reduction internal fixation (n=495), fine wire frame (n=86), spanning external fixator (n=25), intramedullary nail (n=25) or other (n=18).

The management of tibial Pilon fractures is variable, with just over half of complete articular fractures managed with the gold standard 'span, scan, plan' staged soft tissue resuscitation. A national standard of care would increase the profile and standardise management of these potentially limb-threatening injuries, together with setting them apart from more straightforward ankle fractures.