Biological internal fixation of fractures.

Trauma centers treat more and more patients who have sustained multiple injuries during high energy accidents. The techniques of internal fixation of such fractures may be dictated by the concomitant soft tissue trauma, rather than by the bony injury. Three stages of soft tissue injuries are recognised: Stage I delineates compromised soft tissues which may be treated with standard techniques of internal fixation, provided that further devialization by surgery is avoided. Stage II implies partial, non-circumferential destruction of soft tissues, requiring alternative techniques of internal fixation to prevent (mainly septic) complications. In stage III, the soft tissues about the fracture site are destroyed and need early, specific soft tissue reconstruction. Indirect reduction without further devascularization of bone, aiming at perfect alignment rather than anatomical reduction of extraarticular fractures, optimal rather than maximal internal fixation as well as the inclusion of soft tissue reconstructive procedures into the armamentarium of the orthopaedic surgeon, require an intellectual and technical reorientation but can be shown to improve the results of the treatment of fractures with concomitant soft tissue injury.