Acta Medica Medianae (Apr 2006)

EXTERNAL FIXATION OF TIBIAL SHAFT FRACTURES IN POLYTRAUMA PATIENTS

  • Dusan Vidovic,
  • Igor Kostic,
  • Momcilo Todorovic,
  • Desimir Mladenovc,
  • Predrag Stojiljkovic,
  • Zoran Golubovic,
  • Danilo Stojiljkovic

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45, no. 2
pp. 21 – 26

Abstract

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Traffic accidents represent one of the most common etiologic factors in polytrauma patients.Successful treatment of polytrauma patients requires an approach based on prioritizing injuries.An isolated injury of the musculosceletal system rarely poses any threat, but in association with multiple injuries, a musculosceletal injury has greater significance.Proper management of tibial shaft fractures can greatly reduce the mortality and morbidity in polytrauma patients.The paper presents our results in the treatment of the tibial shaft fracture in 30 polytrauma patients treated by Mitkovic external fixator M-20 at the Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic – Clinical Center Nis in the 5-year period (January 1, 2000-December 12, 2004).External fixation by the use of Mitkovic external fixator M-20 is a method of choice in the treatment of tibial shaft fractures in polytrauma patients.This minimally invasive operative method is excellent for polytrauma patients, providing early mobility of injured patients. External fixation is simple for application and provides excellent biomechanical conditions for fracture healing.

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