Treatment of Tibia Fracture with Postoperative Osteomyelitis and Soft Tissue Defect with Unilateral External Fixation

Objective:To know the curative effectiveness of external fixation in treating tibia fracture with postoperative osteomyelitis and soft tissue defect,which had been fixed with internal fixation.Method:In 21 patients,all implants removal and debridement were done,all tibia fracture stabilized by unilateral external fixation.In some cases,bone grafting,muscle transposition,skin flap transposition were performed.Antibiotics were administered according to sensitivity in preoperative and postoperative time.Results:In 3 months and 1 year after operation of external fixation,no infection sign could be demonstrated,the fracture healed,external fixation was removed,and no patient had amputation performed.The ratio of excellent and good was 71.4%.Conclusion:These results indicate that external fixation is effective in the treatment of the tibia fracture of postoperative osteomyelitis and soft tissue defect treated with unilateral external fixation.