Summary
The Orthofix external fixator was used to treat 112 fractures of the long bones in 101 patients, and 22 patients with infected nonunions. Our results compared favourably with those reported in other series where external fixation was used. The overall rate of uncomplicated union was 69.6% with 24.1% of patients requiring a further operation. The overall incidence of nonunion (30.4%) was due to the relatively large number of severe open fractures in the series. The apparatus was simple to apply, and safe and effective in practice. We recommend its use for the primary treatment of open and segmental fractures, and for infected nonunion.
Résumé
Le fixateur externe Orthofix a été utilisé pour le traitement de 112 fractures diaphysaires chez 101 patients et chez 22 malades porteurs de pseudarthroses infectées. Nos résultats peuvent se comparer favorablement avec ceux qui sont rapportés dans d'autres séries où le fixateur externe a été employé. Le pourcentage total de consolidations sans complication a été de 69.6%, avec 24.1% de patients chez qui une opération complémentaire a été nécessaire. Le taux global de pseudarthroses (30.4%) est dû au nombre relativement important de fractures ouvertes graves dans cette série. L'appareil est facile à poser, sûr et efficace en pratique. Nous le recommandons dans le traitement initial des fractures ouvertes et des fractures comminutives, ainsi que dans les pseudarthroses infectées.
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Kim, N.H., Hahn, S.B., Park, H.W. et al. The Orthofix external fixator for fractures of long bones. International Orthopaedics 18, 42–46 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180178