[Clinical efficacy of external locking plate combined with platelet-rich plasma injection in the treatment of open tibiofibular fractures].

OBJECTIVE

To explore clinical efficacy of external locking plate combined with platelet-rich palasma (PRP) in treating open fractures of tibia and fibula.

METHODS

From November 2019 to May 2022, 13 patients with open fractures of tibia and fibula were admitted, including 11 males and 2 females, aged from 20 to 56 years old;6 patients with Gustilo typeⅡand 7 patients with type Ⅲ;all patients were treated with external tibial plate fixation for tibiofibular fractures in emergency department, combined with PRP injection at the fracture ends and wounds. The fracture healing time and complications were observed. The fracture healing was evaluated based on Lane-Sandhu X-ray score, ankle joint function was evaluated by Kofoed score at 3 months after operation and at the latest follow-up, respectively.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months. Thirteen patients met requirements of bony union, and healing time ranged from 8 to 16 weeks. There were no complications such as infection, dislocation or loose fixation after operation. Lane-Sandhu X-ray score increased from 1 to 7 points at 3 months after operation to 10 points at the latest follow-up. Kofoed ankle joint function score increased from 21 to 48 points at 1 month after operation to 63 to 90 points at 3 months after operation, and then increased to 79 to 98 points at the latest follow-up. There were 11 patients got excellent result and 2 good.

CONCLUSION

External locking plate combined with PRP for the treatment of open tibiofibular fractures could achieve good fracture healing and ankle joint function, and the clinical effect is satisfactory.