Open fractures of the tibia in children

Ninety open fractures of the tibia treated at the authors' institution between 1985 and 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 38 Grade I, 35 Grade II, and 17 Grade III fractures. All patients had debridement and lavage of the wound under general anesthesia. Seventeen wounds (19.8%) were closed primarily and 69 (80.2%) were left open. Forty fractures (45.0%) were stabilized in casts, 31 (34.8%) in an external fixator, and 18 (20.2%) with casts and internal fixation. Six patients (7.1%) had superficial infection occur, 2 had vascular injuries, 1 of whom required an amputation, and only 1 had a neurologic injury. The average time to union was 4.5 months (range, 1.2-28.3 months). there were 10 delayed and 7 nonunions. Multiple regression analysis showed that only age of the patient and grade of the fracture were significantly associated with union time. Open fractures of the tibia in children older than 12 years of age have a high risk of developing delayed or nonunion when compared with the same injuries in children younger than 6 years of age.