Pilon fracture: B type fracture fixed with anterior approach and Smith and Nephew EVOS plating system
Overview
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Pilon fractures are high energy injuries involving the distal tibial articular surface, these can be devastating injuries often with a poor prognosis due to the articular injury and the high risk of post-traumatic arthritis. The soft tissues around the distal tibia are tenuous and there is usually significant swelling following injury, surgery must be carefully timed to minimise the risk of post-operative wound failure or deep infection.
The operative fixation of pilon (pestle) fractures was first described by Ruedi and Allgower in 1968. They advocated surgical fixation with a four stage approach. Firstly restoration of fibula length, secondly reconstruction of the joint surface, thirdly bone grating to the metaphysis and fourthly a medial buttress plate. They also provided a classification with 3 types, Type 1 with no joint displacement, type 2 with articular displacement and type 3 with significant articular comminution.
The majority of the injuries reported by Ruedi and Allogower occurred after skiing accidents, in contrast to this most injuries seen in less mountainous regions occur after high energy injuries involving axial loads to the ankle such as falls from significant height or road traffic accidents. The classification has been further refined by Topliss and Atkins who described the commonly seen articular fragments and patterns of injury.
Topliss CJ, Jackson M, Atkins RM. Anatomy of pilon fractures of the distal tibia. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005 May;87(5):692-7.
Current management of high energy pilon fractures normally involves a staged approach with initial placement of an external fixator to resuscitate the soft tissues and restore overall limb alignment followed by definitive fixation once the soft tissues have recovered sufficiently.
OrthOracle readers will also find the following instructional techniques of interest:
Pilon fracture: Internal fixation using Stryker AxSOS 3Ti plate.
Pilon fracture: C-type fixed using Smith and Nephew EVOS small fragment system.
Pilon Fracture: C-type fixed with Stryker AxSOS 3 Periarticular Plating System
Distal tibial fracture: open reduction internal fixation with Stryker AxSOS 3 plate
Ankle fracture: Stabilisation with Hoffmann 3 Ankle-spanning External Fixator (Delta frame)
Author: Paul Fenton FRCS(Tr & Orth)
Institution: The Queen Elisabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
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