Soliman, M., Hosny, G., Ahmed, A. (2022). Definitive Management of Open Fractures in pediatric patients by External Fixators. Benha Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(10), 121-126. doi: 10.21608/bjas.2022.290016
Mostafa A. Soliman; Gamal A. Hosny; Abdelsalam A. Ahmed. "Definitive Management of Open Fractures in pediatric patients by External Fixators". Benha Journal of Applied Sciences, 7, 10, 2022, 121-126. doi: 10.21608/bjas.2022.290016
Soliman, M., Hosny, G., Ahmed, A. (2022). 'Definitive Management of Open Fractures in pediatric patients by External Fixators', Benha Journal of Applied Sciences, 7(10), pp. 121-126. doi: 10.21608/bjas.2022.290016
Soliman, M., Hosny, G., Ahmed, A. Definitive Management of Open Fractures in pediatric patients by External Fixators. Benha Journal of Applied Sciences, 2022; 7(10): 121-126. doi: 10.21608/bjas.2022.290016
Definitive Management of Open Fractures in pediatric patients by External Fixators
Orthopedic Surgery, Dept., Faculty of Medicine, Benha Univ., Benha, Egypt
Abstract
In the last several decades, vehicle accidents have been the leading cause of long-shaft lower-limb fractures in children. These fractures often involve the tibia and fibula and are accompanied by skin and soft-tissue injuries of varying severity. This research aims to assess the efficacy of external fixators in the final treatment of open fractures in children. Methods: Fifteen patients with open long bone fractures were treated with external fixation at Benha University Hospital, with a median follow-up of 12 weeks. The present study validates previous research showing satisfactory functional and radiological outcomes utilising the external fixation approach. Patients' ages varied from 6-16 years old, with a mean of 9.603.07. Almost four out of five (73.3%) were males. Road traffic accidents accounted for 73.3% of all injury mechanisms, followed by the direct fall of a large item (6.6%) and localised trauma (1.3%). Gustilo grades 2 (53.3% of cases), 3a (33.3%), and 3b (6.7%) were the most common. The tibia was the most often broken bone (80%). A total of 87 minutes and 37 seconds were spent in surgery on average. Eighty percent of patients began ROM right away, whereas the remaining 20% did so within 2 weeks, and the other 7% did so within 5 months. Three patients began bearing weight immediately, two patients waited two weeks, and ten patients waited one month. The mean duration of a radiological union was 4.27 1.22 months. It took 4.63 1.14 months on average to get the fixator out. The most common complications were skin infections (60%) and stiffness (26.7%), followed by NV issues (13.3%), a pin fracture (6.7%), and a refracture of bone (6.7%).