BACKGROUND: Now, most of external fixators in the clinical application are the mechanical structure of the framework, the fixator has a greater stress shielding on the fracture and is unfavorable for fracture healing. Research group combined with the development of the theory of modern orthopedic designs a sliding dovetail with the external fixator device which can use its own gravity and muscle contraction to give the appropriate pressure for fracture in the case of ensuring reliable fixation strength, thus facilitating the healing and shorten the healing time.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of vertical physiological external pressure fixator for treatment of tibiofibula fracture.
METHODS: Totally 30 patients who from Department of Orthopedics, Chinese Medicine Hospital of Henan Province between January 2005 and March 2011 treated with vertical physiological external pressure fixator for treatment of tibiofibula fracture were selected as the treatment group. Twenty patients who previously followed-up in the same hospital treated with unilateral multifunctional external fixator for tibiofibula repair were selected as control. All other conditions were the same except for fixatior in the two groups.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Comprehensive analysis indicators of security, knee-joint activity, X-ray and so on in the treatment group were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Only one case with wound infection in the treatment group, two cases with fixed pin loosening, and one case with needle-point wound infection in the control group. By clinical symptomatic treatment, satisfactory recovery was achieved. It is preliminary showed that vertical physiological external pressure fixator has a good safety performance, and can shorten the healing time and the period of callus remodeling.