TY - JOUR AU - Ali, Pervez AU - Jatoi, Fahad AU - Hussain, Muzafar AU - Muhammad, Dost AU - Matlo, Ejaz AU - Khoso, Riaz Ellahi AU - Sajjad, Mian AU - Kumar, Suresh AU - Baloch, Muzafar AU - Murtaza, Kashif PY - 2022/09/21 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Comparison of the Outcome of Intramedullary Nailing Versus External Fixator Fracture Repair in Gustilo Type IIIA Tibio Fibular Fracture JF - Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal JA - PAFMJ VL - 72 IS - 4 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.51253/pafmj.v72i4.7373 UR - https://pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/7373 SP - 1482-86 AB - <p><strong>Objective:</strong> To compare the outcome of intramedullary nailing versus external fixator fracture repair in patients presenting with Gustilo Type IIIA tibiofibular fracture.</p><p><strong>Study Design:</strong> Cross-sectional study.</p><p><strong>Place and Duration of Study:</strong> Department of Orthopaedics, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi Pakistan, from Feb to Nov 2020.</p><p><strong>Methodology:</strong> A total of 200 patients were included. Patients were divided into two Groups. In Group-1, intramedullary nailing was done. In Group-2, uniplanar external fixation was done. Both Groups were followed up for six months for assessment of bone union.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The mean age in the Intramedullary Nailing (IMN) Group was 39.21+6.24 years and in the External Fixator (EF) Group mean age was 37.48+8.41 years. In our study, it was found that 81(81%) patients in the EF-Group showed bone union, while 92 patients in the IMN-Group showed bone union. Malunion occurred in 10 in the EF-Group, while only six in the IMN Group. Non-union of bone was unfavourable in the 18 patients of EF- Group and 7 in the IMN-Group. The infection rate was also higher (16%) in patients treated with EF. We noted a significant association between union, non-union, infection and mode of treatment with the p-value of 0.023, 0.019 and 0.046, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Bone union outcome of Gustilo IIIA open tibial shaft fractures appear superior when treated by Intramedullary Nailing technique compared to External Fixation.</p> ER -