Evaluation of Illizarov Technique in the Treatment of Open Comminuted Fractures of Tibia in Adult Patients

Author(s): Md. Mehedi Newaz, Md. Nazrul Islam, Md. Shahedur Rahman

Background: Open tibial fractures, though common in orthopedic treatment arena often involve with comminuted fractures. The Illizarov technique, a versatile and advantageous method, is popular for treating such fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the Illizarov technique in the treatment of open comminuted fractures of tibia in adult patients.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Khulna Medical College and Private Clinics, Khulna, Bangladesh from November 2017 to December 2023. The study enrolled 115 patients with open comminuted tibial fractures, who were managed with the Illizarov external fixator. Participants were selected using purposive sampling and presented within two days of injury. Data were analyzed using MS Office tools.

Results: In this study, according to the Gustilo-Anderson classification, 51.30% of participants were categorized as Type I, 21.8% as Type II, 19.1% as Type III A, and 7.8% as Type III B. On the other hand, as per the ASAMI scoring system, 76.5% were classified as excellent, 15.7% as good, 5.2% as fair, and 2.6% as poor.

Conclusion: The Illizarov technique emerges as a favorable choice for managing open comminuted tibial fractures in adults, offering satisfactory outcomes, minimal blood loss, and prompt healing.