A prospective study of using a locking compression plate as external fixator for open distal tibial fractures

Abstract

Many a time, external fixation provides only temporary bony stabilization. Most external frames for the lower leg are bulky and cumbersome, causing significant problems for the patient. To circumvent these issues, they have successfully used an anatomically-contoured supracutaneous metaphyseal locking compression plate as external fixator in a series of five patients for grade I & II compound fracture of the distal tibia. The locking plate used as a definitive external fixator provided a high rate of union. While the locking plate is not totally rigid, it is clinically stable and may be advisable for stiffness reduction of plating constructs, thus promoting fracture healing by callus formation. The earlier studies had low number of cases and suggested further research. Hence we decided to do this study of twenty cases treated with one stage external fixation by locking compression plate for open distal tibial fractures Gustilo type I and II, as a definitive procedure to assess the functional, clinical and radiological outcomes. In our study, 10 patients achieved excellent result, 8 patients recorded good result and 2 patients had a fair result as per the Oleur and Molander scoring system.