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Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery 4/2017

01-08-2017 | Original Article

Gustilo type IIIC open tibia fractures with vascular repair: minimum 2-year follow-up

Authors: O. Tunali, Y. Saglam, H. I. Balci, A. Kochai, N. A. Sahbaz, O. A. Sayin, O. Yazicioglu

Published in: European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery | Issue 4/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Salvage or amputation for grade 3C open fracture of tibia is not well responded question universally because of surgical innovations, cultural believes, difficulties in estimate the outcome, coasts, and different results in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcomes of Gustilo grade 3C open tibia fractures with at least two years follow-up in non-military adults.

Methods

Twenty-two non-military patients with a mean age of 31.1 were operated with grade 3c open fractures at tibia level in last 10 years in our clinic. We evaluated them retrospectively and asked about their daily life, pain, and if present, about the wish for secondary amputation. We also asked if they would prefer a first day amputation rather than their present status.

Results

Mean operation time after the injury was 13 h. Seven patients had nerve injury. Mean operation number was 3.5. Eight patients (%36) (all due to circulatory problem) had to have amputation. All patients treated with temporary unilateral external fixation than converted to circular external fixators when soft tissue healing was completed. Two patients were reoperated because of deformity. Four patients needed revision surgery because of non-union. At long term follow, we had osteomyelitis in one patient.

Conclusions

Scoring systems and the ischemic time are not the only predictors of amputation. The decision of the treatment mode should be made by the patient and the care team after discussing the options and outcomes rather than relying on a scoring system.
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Metadata
Title
Gustilo type IIIC open tibia fractures with vascular repair: minimum 2-year follow-up
Authors
O. Tunali
Y. Saglam
H. I. Balci
A. Kochai
N. A. Sahbaz
O. A. Sayin
O. Yazicioglu
Publication date
01-08-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 1863-9933
Electronic ISSN: 1863-9941
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-016-0689-y

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