A Retrospective Comparative Cohort Study Comparing Temporary Internal Fixation to External Fixation at the First Stage Debridement in the Treatment of Type IIIB Open Diaphyseal Tibial Fractures.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the rates of deep infection, flap failure, and nonunion after temporary internal fixation (TIF) with temporary external fixation (ex-fix) in the management of Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open tibia fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective comparative cohort study.

SETTING

Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four consecutive patients with a Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB open diaphyseal tibia fracture (OTA/AO 42) were treated between May 2014 and May 2016. Forty-seven patients (TIF = 24; ex-fix = 23) met the inclusion criteria and underwent 2-stage reconstruction. Definitive fixation was with an intramedullary nail.

INTERVENTION

Temporary fracture stabilization at the first-stage debridement was achieved with either TIF with a plate or ex-fix.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT

The main outcome measure was deep infection.

RESULTS

There were 4 complications in the ex-fix group (3 infection and 1 nonunion) and 2 complications in the TIF group (1 infection and 1 flap failure). Multiple regression modeling revealed that infection (P = 0.610), nonunion (P = 0.918), and flap failure (P = 0.112) were not significantly associated with the mode of temporary fixation or other demographic and treatment variables. The odds ratio of patients treated with TIF developing an infection compared with those treated with an ex-fix was 0.29 (95% confidence interval, 0.03-3.01).

CONCLUSIONS

TIF of type IIIB open diaphyseal tibial fractures seems to be a safe alternative to conventional external fixation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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