Abstract
The tibia, which is covered by subcutaneous tissue anteromdially, frequently sustain open comminuted fracture by trauma. The open fractures have higher risks of infection, nonunion, delayed union and joint stiffness.
The authors reviewed 54 cases of open tibial fracture, treated at Kwang Ju Christian Hospital from January 1989 to December 1992.
The results were as follows :
1. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident(41 case) and the average age of the patients was 32 years.
2. The radiographic union was obtained at 16.1 weeks in type I open fracture, 18.3 weeks in type III, 20.1 weeks in type IIIa,28.0 weeks in type IIIb, and 34.7 weeks in type IIIc open fracture.
3. The secondary operation was required frequently to obtain bone union in open type II, III fracture.