Complex Fracture: Tibia

Presenting

This 29 year old man’s leg was crushed in an oilfield accident. This open fracture involved loss of a large amount of bone from his tibia. His acute injury was treated at an outside facility by other physicians and stabilized temporarily with an intramedullary nail. These x-rays were taken 10 days after his injury upon referral to Dr. Brinker's office.

Treatment in Progress

These x-rays show the progression of Ilizarov bone transport at two levels to restore the bone over an intramedullary nail. A small segment is moving downward from near the knee and another segment is moving upward from near the ankle. These two segments met in the middle of the tibia and new bone formed behind each segment as it moved.

Result After Treatment by Dr. Brinker

This x-ray shows that the tibia has been restored. The patient has only occasional aches and has returned to work.