Functional outcome of external fixator in Pilon fracture

Author(s): Satish R Gawali1, Yogesh Teke1, Abhay Kawedial1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
Copyright © Satish R Gawali, Yogesh Teke, Abhay Kawedial. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background: Pilon fractures are complex fractures of the lower limb in adults that can be managed by various modalities, including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), external fixation, and conservative management.
Materials and Methodology: In this study, 30 patients with pilon fractures were treated with external fixation at a tertiary care center. The patients were followed up for 12 months, and their functional outcomes were evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle and Hindfoot Score.
Results: The results showed that the use of external fixation led to a significant improvement in functional outcome in patients with pilon fractures, including range of motion, pain, and anatomical reduction.
Conclusion: External fixation is a less invasive and less time-consuming surgical modality for the treatment of pilon fractures. This technique has a favourable functional outcome and can be considered as an effective option for managing this complex fracture in adults.

Keywords: Pilon fracture; External fixator; AOFAS.