FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH SALVAGEABLE LIMBS WITH GRADES III-B AND III-C OPEN FRACTURES OF THE TIBIA

Numerous reports list predictive criteria to determine whether Gustili o-type tibial III-B and III-C fractures of the tibia are salvageable, What is lacking are long-term reports of comprehensive functional outc ome of these severe injuries. We evaluated the functional outcome of p atients with our own seven-scale score. Fifty-four patients with 57 ty pes III-B (n = 41) and III-C (n = 16) open tibial fractures sustained between 1980 and 1989 were recalled for evaluation. There were 45 men and 9 women (average age, 28.4 years; range, 4-68 years). Follow-up pe riods averaged 48.2 months (range, 12-116 months). Salvage rate for th e III-B fractures was 75% (n = 31) and for the III-C fractures 37% (n = 6), We conclude that the functional score is a simple and complete m ethod for assessing the functional outcome of patients undergoing limb salvage procedures. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.