Treatment of open tibial shaft fracture with soft tissue and bone defect caused by aircraft bomb: Case report

• Main Authors: Golubović Zoran, Vidić Goran, Trenkić Srbobran, Vukašinović Zoran, Lešić Aleksandar, Stojiljković Predrag, Stevanović Goran, Golubović Ivan, Višnjić Aleksandar, Najman Stevo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Medical Society 2010-01-01
• Series: Srpski Arhiv za Celokupno Lekarstvo
• Subjects: aircraft bomb; open tibial fracture; bone defect; external fixation
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0370-8179/2010/0370-81791008510G.pdf

Introduction. Aircraft bombs can cause severe orthopaedic injuries. Tibia shaft fractures caused by aircraft bombs are mostly comminuted and followed by bone defects, which makes the healing process extremely difficult and prone to numerous complications. The goal of this paper is to present the method of treatment and the end results of treatment of a serious open tibial fracture with soft and bone tissue defects resulting from aircraft bomb shrapnel wounds. Case Outline. A 26-year-old patient presented with a tibial fracture as the result of a cluster bomb shrapnel wound. He was treated applying the method of external bone fixation done two days after wounding, as well as of early coverage of the lower leg soft tissue defects done on the tenth day after the external fixation of the fracture. The external fixator was removed after five months, whereas the treatment was continued by means of functional plaster cast for another two months. The final functional result was good. Conclusion. Radical wound debridement, external bone fixation of the fracture, and early reconstruction of any soft tissue and bone defects are the main elements of the treatment of serious fractures.