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Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation

Received: 5 March 2021    Accepted: 29 March 2021    Published: 7 April 2021
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Abstract

Fractures in the elderly population are a major increasing issue for any healthcare institution, associated with the growing life expectancy. Proximal tibial fractures affect the metaphyseal bone with or without articular extension, in 5 to 11% of all tibia fracture. Treatment options such as plate fixation, intramedullary nailing or even primary total knee arthroplasty are accepted valuable options. However, specific age-related risk factors such as osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple comorbidities and soft-tissue impairment shall also be taken in consideration as they may lead to severe complications if not fully understood. Therefore, a hybrid tibio-tibial external fixator may be considered as a valid surgical option for primary and definitive treatment care of these fractures especially if associated with soft-tissue damage. We report a retrospective observational analysis of three cases of closed extra-articular proximal tibia fractures associated with soft-tissue impairment in a geriatric population and treated with a hybrid external fixator (TenXor, Stryker). The fractures were classified according to the AO, as metaphyseal fractures (AO 41A2.1, 41A3.3). The post-operative protocol was standardized, with immediate full weight bearing. Complete consolidation of the fractures was obtained at 6 months. There were no pin tract infection and removal of the material has been done at 6 months. No cut-out of the proximal tibial wires was observed. The primary and definitive care of proximal tibial fractures by a hybrid external fixator appears to be a valuable surgical option in geriatric patients especially when associated with poor soft tissue coverage. The major advantage of this technique, acknowledging the longer bone consolidation process, is to avoid additional insult to the soft tissues. This surgical option gathers further treatment perspectives in the elderly population especially in cases of soft tissue limitations.

Published in Journal of Surgery (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.js.20210902.18
Page(s) 82-85
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Proximal Tibial Fracture, Metaphyseal Fracture, Geriatric Trauma, Soft-tissue Impairment

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Yoann Durand, Franziska Kocher, Moritz Tannast, Daniel Petek. (2021). Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation. Journal of Surgery, 9(2), 82-85. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20210902.18

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    ACS Style

    Yoann Durand; Franziska Kocher; Moritz Tannast; Daniel Petek. Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation. J. Surg. 2021, 9(2), 82-85. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20210902.18

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    AMA Style

    Yoann Durand, Franziska Kocher, Moritz Tannast, Daniel Petek. Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation. J Surg. 2021;9(2):82-85. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20210902.18

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  • @article{10.11648/j.js.20210902.18,
      author = {Yoann Durand and Franziska Kocher and Moritz Tannast and Daniel Petek},
      title = {Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation},
      journal = {Journal of Surgery},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {82-85},
      doi = {10.11648/j.js.20210902.18},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20210902.18},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.js.20210902.18},
      abstract = {Fractures in the elderly population are a major increasing issue for any healthcare institution, associated with the growing life expectancy. Proximal tibial fractures affect the metaphyseal bone with or without articular extension, in 5 to 11% of all tibia fracture. Treatment options such as plate fixation, intramedullary nailing or even primary total knee arthroplasty are accepted valuable options. However, specific age-related risk factors such as osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple comorbidities and soft-tissue impairment shall also be taken in consideration as they may lead to severe complications if not fully understood. Therefore, a hybrid tibio-tibial external fixator may be considered as a valid surgical option for primary and definitive treatment care of these fractures especially if associated with soft-tissue damage. We report a retrospective observational analysis of three cases of closed extra-articular proximal tibia fractures associated with soft-tissue impairment in a geriatric population and treated with a hybrid external fixator (TenXor, Stryker). The fractures were classified according to the AO, as metaphyseal fractures (AO 41A2.1, 41A3.3). The post-operative protocol was standardized, with immediate full weight bearing. Complete consolidation of the fractures was obtained at 6 months. There were no pin tract infection and removal of the material has been done at 6 months. No cut-out of the proximal tibial wires was observed. The primary and definitive care of proximal tibial fractures by a hybrid external fixator appears to be a valuable surgical option in geriatric patients especially when associated with poor soft tissue coverage. The major advantage of this technique, acknowledging the longer bone consolidation process, is to avoid additional insult to the soft tissues. This surgical option gathers further treatment perspectives in the elderly population especially in cases of soft tissue limitations.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Proximal Extra-articular Tibial Fractures Associated with Soft-tissue Impairment in Geriatric Patients: Definitive Treatment by Hybrid External Fixation
    AU  - Yoann Durand
    AU  - Franziska Kocher
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    AU  - Daniel Petek
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    JO  - Journal of Surgery
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20210902.18
    AB  - Fractures in the elderly population are a major increasing issue for any healthcare institution, associated with the growing life expectancy. Proximal tibial fractures affect the metaphyseal bone with or without articular extension, in 5 to 11% of all tibia fracture. Treatment options such as plate fixation, intramedullary nailing or even primary total knee arthroplasty are accepted valuable options. However, specific age-related risk factors such as osteoporosis, arthritis, multiple comorbidities and soft-tissue impairment shall also be taken in consideration as they may lead to severe complications if not fully understood. Therefore, a hybrid tibio-tibial external fixator may be considered as a valid surgical option for primary and definitive treatment care of these fractures especially if associated with soft-tissue damage. We report a retrospective observational analysis of three cases of closed extra-articular proximal tibia fractures associated with soft-tissue impairment in a geriatric population and treated with a hybrid external fixator (TenXor, Stryker). The fractures were classified according to the AO, as metaphyseal fractures (AO 41A2.1, 41A3.3). The post-operative protocol was standardized, with immediate full weight bearing. Complete consolidation of the fractures was obtained at 6 months. There were no pin tract infection and removal of the material has been done at 6 months. No cut-out of the proximal tibial wires was observed. The primary and definitive care of proximal tibial fractures by a hybrid external fixator appears to be a valuable surgical option in geriatric patients especially when associated with poor soft tissue coverage. The major advantage of this technique, acknowledging the longer bone consolidation process, is to avoid additional insult to the soft tissues. This surgical option gathers further treatment perspectives in the elderly population especially in cases of soft tissue limitations.
    VL  - 9
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Author Information
  • Clinic of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Fribourg District Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland

  • Clinic of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Fribourg District Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland

  • Clinic of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Fribourg District Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland

  • Clinic of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Fribourg District Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland

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