Volume 26, Issue 130, December 2022

The pattern of pilon fractures in King Saud Medical City

Ahmed Onayzan Alshammari

Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Hail, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: The pilon fracture is a fracture notable by the fact that it varies greatly in its intricacy. Despite being uncommon, pilon fractures are of interest to orthopedic surgeons because of the awkwardness of their treatment. For correct grading, classification and preoperative preparation, necessary radiographic images must always be undertaken. Aim: The study was designed to determine clinical as well as radiographic patterns of pilon fractures at our facility. Methods: The study included patients with tibial pilon fractures who presented to King Saud Medical City (September 2019 – August 2022). Fractures were categorized based on the AO classification method and Gustilo–Anderson classification. Results: Tibial pilon fractures occurred in 21 individuals, among them 23.8% of fractures were open, 14.2% of the individuals had Gustilo type II and the predominance (47.6%) belonged to AO type 43-B. Fracture grade and its relationship to fibula fracture both substantially impacted the AOFAS scoring rate (P=0.025 and P=0.019, respectively). Conclusion: When compared to other musculoskeletal injuries, tibial pilon fractures are still quite rare, but it is rising in incidence. Hence, specific orthopedic surgery units in Saudi Arabia dealing with lower tibial fractures are needed to cover a wider geographic area to categorize patients aiming to tailor appropriate management strategies that may positively affect its outcome.

Keywords: AO classification, distal tibia fracture, Gustilo–Anderson classification, intra-articular ankle fractures, Pilon fracture, Plafond fracture

Medical Science, 2022, 26, ms527e2631

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi/v26i130/ms527e2631

Published: 14 December 2022