[Treatment of infected tibial fractures and pseudarthrosis using an external fixator]

The clinical course and the results of our treatment of 18 patients with External Fixator after infection or pseudarthrosis are demonstrated. On an average of 6.1 months the patients wore the external fixator, the time of consolidation of the fracture was 17.2 months from the accident. At the date of examination - 16 months to 10 years after removal the external fixator all fractures and pseudarthroses were united. Two patients still had a fistula three years after removal of the external fixator. Three patients had slight pain in the area of the former fracture or the complication-wound; disturbance of sensibility in the area of the scar and the meshgrafts were found at 11 patients. The mobility of the knee joint was nearly free in all patients, the mobility of the ankle joint was impaired in most of them.