Functional outcomes after tibial shaft fractures treated using the Taylor spatial frame.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze functional and radiologic outcomes of tibial shaft fractures treated with the Taylor spatial frame (TSF).

DESIGN

Prospective follow-up study of radiologic and functional outcomes.

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

From January 2006 to December 2012, prospective data were collected for 56 consecutive patients completing treatment of a tibial shaft fracture with the TSF.

INTERVENTION

Treatment of tibial shaft fractures, including those with simple extension into the knee or ankle joints, using the TSF.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Residual deformity on x-ray and functional outcomes using the EQ-5D health status questionnaire, Iowa Knee and Ankle Evaluation Rating System scores, and Olerud and Molander Ankle score were recorded 1 year after frame removal.

RESULTS

Average residual deformity was 1.8 degrees in the coronal and 1.6 degrees in the sagittal planes. EQ-5D outcomes showed patients returning to a health status no different from scores for the UK population as a whole. Iowa Knee scores demonstrated "good" or "excellent" outcomes in 87.3% of our cohort (mean, 90). Ankle Evaluation Rating System scores and Olerud and Molander Ankle scores showed "good" or "excellent" outcomes in 76.8% and 89.3% of our cohort, respectively (mean, 84.1 and 84).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the TSF for treatment of tibial fractures, with support from a dedicated limb reconstruction rehabilitation team, has a number of technical advantages while producing good functional and surgical outcomes, with patients recovering to a pre-injury health status.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.