Complications of the Use of A.O External Skeletal Fixator in the Treatment of Type – III Open Tibial Fractures

Objectives: To determine the complications encountered at our institution during the use of A.O tubular external fixator in the treatment of type-III open tibial fractures. Place and Duration of Study: From July 2011 to December 2011, at Nawaz Sharif Social Security Teaching Hospital, Lahore (University College Medicine and dentistry). Subjects and Methods: Thirty cases were included in the study. All the patients between 10 – 59 years of age with type – III open tibial fractures were admitted through emergency department. After complete resuscitation, fracture was stabilized with A.O fixator after adequate debridement under appropriate anaesthesia. Results: Majority of the patients in study were males. The mean age in study was 31.23 ± 14.151 years. Road traffic accidents were observed to be the major cause of injury in 27 patients (90%). Delayed union was observed in 11 cases (36.67%). Non union was observed in 12 patients (40.0%). The most common post operative complication was pin tract infection. Pin tract infection was observed in 17 patients (56.66%) and pin loosening in 16 patients (53.33%). Out of 130 pin sites in 30 fractures 34 became infected, representing a pin tract infection of 26.15%. Pin loosening was observed in 16 pins (12.31%). Conclusion: We concluded that External fixator is the best available method of fixation in grade III open tibial fractures with severe soft tissue injuries.