Comparing Radiographic Progression of Bone Healing in Gustilo IIIB Open Tibia Fractures Treated With Muscle Versus Fasciocutaneous Flaps.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate how muscle and fasciocutaneous flaps influence the progression of bone healing in acute Gustilo IIIB tibia fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective Chart Review.

SETTING

Urban Academic Level I Trauma Center.

PATIENTS/

PARTICIPANTS

Between 2006 and 2016, 39 patients from a database of operatively treated long bone fractures met the inclusion criteria, which consisted of adults with acute Gustilo IIIB tibia shaft fracture requiring flap coverage and having at least 6 months of radiographic follow-up.

INTERVENTION: Soft tissue coverage for patients with Gustilo IIIB open tibia fractures was performed with either a muscle flap or fasciocutaneous flap.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: A radiographic union score for tibia (RUST) fractures, used to evaluate fracture healing, was assigned to patients' radiographs postoperatively, at 3, 6, and 12 months from the initial fracture date. Mean RUST scores at these time points were compared between those of patients with muscle flaps and fasciocutaneous flaps. Union was defined as a RUST score of 10 or higher.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference (P = 0.026) in the mean RUST score at 6 months between the muscle group (8.54 ± 1.81) and the fasciocutaneous group (6.92 ± 2.46). There was no significant difference in the mean RUST score at 3 months (P = 0.056) and at 12 months (P = 0.947) between the 2 groups. There was also significance in the number of fractures reaching union, favoring muscle flaps, at 6 months (P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with acute Gustilo IIIB tibia fractures who received muscle flaps have significantly faster radiographic progression of bone healing in the first 6 months than do patients who received fasciocutaneous flaps. Furthermore, according to radiographic evaluation, more Gustilo IIIB tibia fractures receiving muscle flaps reach union by 6 months than those flapped with fasciocutaneous tissue.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.