“Preliminary evaluation of a prospective randomized case series comparing plate and screws versus Ilizarov circular external fixator for distal tibial fractures”

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to compare two surgical approaches for fractures of the tibial pilon: open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws versus closed reduction and external fixation with the Ilizarov circular external fixator, constituting a study with a level of evidence level 4 and seeking to determine which patients benefit most from each surgical approach. METHODS: The research involved 19 patients with fractures of the tibial pilon, divided into two groups according to their respective medical records and evaluated considering the quality of joint reduction, acute complications in relation to these two methods and associated injuries and comorbidities due to a minimum outpatient follow-up of four months. RESULTS: there was no difference in terms of reduction quality, whereas in terms of acute complications and the need for surgical re-approaches, the group of patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation with plate and screws showed worse results. CONCLUSION: the choice between the methods must be individualized, considering the specific injuries and comorbidities of each patient.