Open tibial fractures treated by anterior half-pin frame fixation

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Steinfield-PH; Cobelli-NJ; Sadler-AH; Szporn-MN Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York. Clin-Orthop. 1988 Mar(228): 208-14 Forty-two open tibial fractures were treated with anterior half-pin frame fixation, weight bearing as tolerated, and early reconstruction of the soft tissue envelope. Thirty fractures were followed to completion of therapy. The infection rate was 7.1%, nonunion rate, 3.0%, and pin tract infection rate, 0.5%. Problems of malunion (23.3%) and of secondary fractures around lag screws (17.6%) may be reduced by early cancellous bone grafting and limited use of minimal internal fixation.