Open proximal & distal fractures of tibia treated with Naseer Awais External Fixator with T-clamp.

OBJECTIVE To compare the outcome of the open proximal and distal fractures of tibia treated by Nasser Awais External Fixtator with T-clamp. METHODS The descriptive case series was conducted from August 2009 to July 2012 at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences, Jamshoro, and comprised in-patients of open proximal and distal fractures of tibia who were divided into two equal groups: group A had distal and group B had proximal patients. All patients had extra-articular open fractures Gustilo I, II, IIIA and IIIB of proximal and distal end of tibia between 15 and 60 years of age who had arrived within 8 hours of the injury. Below-knee plaster cast was applied for 02 to 03 weeks after the removal of Nasser Awais External Fixtator and all patients were followed up for 12 months. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Overall, there were 30 patients; 15(50%) in each of the two groups. The mean age in group A was 28.9±9.43 years and 34.3±14.60 years in group B. There were 11(73.3%) males and 4(26.7%) females in group A, and 15(100%) males in-group B. Mean fracture union time in group A was 17.20±2.93 weeks (range: 11-23 weeks) and in group B it was 23.53±2.44 weeks (range: 19-28 weeks). Ankle joint stiffness occurred in 2(6.7%) cases that were in group A, and knee joint stiffness was seen in 2(6.7%) cases and they were in group B. CONCLUSIONS Nasser Awais External Fixator with T-Clamp was a safe technique and promoted the union with a low complication rate with less union time in distal tibial fracture compared to proximal fracture.