Assessment of Type III Lower Extremity Open Fractures in Trauma Center of Isfahan Province, Center of Iran

Abstract

Background: Lower extremity traumatic injury is of most prevalent cause of orthopedic refer to emergency department. Lower extremity open fractures are divided into three subtypes that the most complex one is type III accompanied with vascular injury. This was an epidemiological study about type IIIC open fractures in Isfahan Province, Center of Iran. Methods: This was an epidemiological, descriptive, and cross-sectional study on 26 patients with type IIIC fracture based on the Gustilo-Anderson classification referred to level-I traumatic center of Isfahan during the years 2014-2016. Vascular injury (based on Doppler ultrasonography), management of fracture reconstruction, type of wound restoration (primary or delayed), and the duration between injury and vascular reconstruction were assessed. Findings: 26 cases were assessed. Right-sided injury was detected in 46.2%, tibia fracture in 65.4%, and femoral fracture in 34.6%. The most common injured artery was popliteal artery in 69.2%. External fixation was the most common technique (76.9%) of reconstruction. 76.9% and 23.07% of cases underwent delayed and primary wound restoration, respectively. 34.6% of cases underwent vascular reconstruction at first 6 hours and 34.6% of cases experienced lower extremity infection. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, tibia fractures and popliteal artery injury were the most common injuries in open lower limb fractures. Most cases were treated with external fixation.

Keywords

• Fractures
• Open
• Vascular injuries
• Lower extremity