ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2007 August;58(4):297-301

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Orthofix periarticular device for tibial pilon fractures: an up-to-date choice

Caresio M., Damilano M., Bosa G., Indemini E.

Divisione di Ortopedia e Traumatologia Ospedale Maggiore Chieri, Torino

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results obtained by using the Orthofix periarticular device for the treatment of tibial pilon fractures, as an alternative to other methods.
Methods. Forty-three tibial pilon fractures with complete dissociation between diaphysis and metaphysis are included in our study. The evaluation has been carried out on 39 cases since 2 of them are still undergoing treatment, 1 patient died after recovery and 1 patient has been lost at follow-up. In 17 cases fractures were caused by a low energy trauma and in 26 cases by a high energy trauma. Evaluation was made by using some objective parameters, such as deambulation and range of motion (ROM), associated with subjective parameters such as pain and personal satisfaction.
Results. In 39 cases a complete recovery was achieved. Altogether we obtained good results in the regression of painful symptomatology in 70% of the cases. About 87% of the patients were able to walk without making use of any aid; 25 patients (64%) showed the same motility as before the trauma; 35 patients (87%) expressed a good/optimal evaluation of the results obtained. There were neither intraoperative complications nor cases of septic arthritis. It is important to remember that in 7 cases (18%) patients had experienced some arthritis degeneration and in 3 cases there was axial deviation > 10°.
Conclusion. Although in the tibial pilon pathology there are no ideal and always effective therapeutic instruments, the good results we obtained lead us to think we are on the right way.