Benefit of the external fixator in the management of open fractures of the leg skeleton: About 31 cases at Owendo University Teaching Hospital (CHUO)

Open fractures of the leg skeleton represent 8 to 10% of traumatic injuries to the musculoskeletal system. Their stabilization methods remain controversial and the external fixator is one of them. The objective of this study was to show the benefit of the external fixator in the management of these fractures. This was a retrospective study carried out between January 2017 and December 2020 at Owendo University Teaching Hospital. The study concerned all patients admitted for open leg fractures, treated and followed up in the department. We collected 31 patients including 22 men and 9 women. Their average age was 34.2 years (range 18-62 years). The age group from 31 to 50 was the most represented with 54.8% (n=17). Field workers constituted the socio-professional group most affected with 25.8% (n=8). Road traffic accidents (RTA) were the main sources of trauma with 83.9% (n=26). According to the Gustilo and Anderson classification, the type IIIa lesions were the most frequent with 61.2% (n=19). The majority of patients were treated on the 6th day (58.1%, n=18). Occurring in 38.7% (n=12), the complications encountered were infection and delayed union in 16.2% (n=5) each. The average time to consolidation was 23.6 weeks (range 15 -52 weeks). With an average follow-up of 10 months, the results evaluated, according to Ketenjian criteria, were excellent in 19.4% (n=6), very good in 41.9% (n=13), good in 22.6% (n =7) and bad in 6.4% (n=2), in others words 83.9% satisfactory results. the results obtained are generally satisfactory but can be improved if we simplify the methods of providing the external fixator to needy patients.