Information for Medical Professionals

Patient-specific approach could improve treatment of pilon fractures

Using a patient-specific approach during the reduction and internal fixation of pilon fractures in the tibia could improve outcomes and reduce the prevalence of soft-tissue complications.

According to the researchers behind the paper Outcome Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Open Pilon Fractures, "reduction and internal fixation of open pilon fractures was accomplished with an acceptable outcome".

Writing in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, they said: "We believe these results can be reproduced through routine use of an individualised treatment algorithm including the use of staged procedures, meticulous soft-tissue management, liberal use of temporising external fixation, and a patient-specific approach to fixation and soft-tissue coverage."

They looked at 68 patients with open pilon fractures and, following surgery, all patients were assessed by individuals not involved in their treatment using a modified Mazur scoring system and the Short Form-36 Version 2.0 questionnaire.

Recent research by Italian and German scientists showed that patients with hypertrophic non-unions of the femur, tibia and radius could benefit from shock-wave therapy.

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