PRIMARY FREE-FLAP COVER OF OPEN TIBIAL FRACTURES

Seventeen consecutive patients with Grade IIIB open tibial fractures h ad definitive treatment of both the fracture and soft tissues performe d within 72 h of injury. Free tissue transfer was used for cover in ea ch case. There were no cases of deep infection. Flap survival was 100 per cent. The mean time to fracture healing was 10 months, and mean ti me to walking unaided was 12 months. The average length of stay in hos pital was 82 days. The findings suggest that immediate radical debride ment followed by adequate soft tissue cover is a safe and effective me thod for treating these severe injuries. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.