@article{article_189827, title={Our experience in the management of open femoral fractures with external fixators and our results}, journal={Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica}, volume={28}, pages={98–101}, year={2006}, DOI={10.3944/aott.v28i2.1463}, author={Parmaksizoglu, Atilla and Yalaman, Okan and Ozkaya, Ufuk and Orhan, Zafer and Yazıcı, Nuzhet}, keywords={External Fixator,;Open Femoral Fractures}, abstract={57 open femoral fractures of 57 patients were treated with the application of external fixators in th~ Orthopaedics and Traumatology Clinic of Taksim State Hospital during 1988-1993. 42 of patients were male while the other 15 were female, and the mean age was 35 {17-62). The mean follow-up period was 19 months {930). Flexion contractures of varying degrees were observed in the knees of 23 of our patients. 23 of oui cases were comminuted open femoral fractures and 1 0 of them had malunion while the other 13 had shortening of 3 to 5 cm. 1 of our patients had infected nonunion and had to be reoperated. Chronic osteomyelitis were seen in 2 of our patients and 5 other had pin-track infections in the pins close to their knees. As a result, we think that the application of extemal fixators in the management of open femoral fractures should be Iimited because of high incidence of complications such as knee contractures common in distal 1/3 fractures of the femur, shortening and malunion in comminuted femoral fractures. it has been concluded that it shoİJldn’t be used in Gustillo Type 1 and II fractures, and its use in Type III should be Iimited to 1hose cases who had been unsuccesfully treated with alternative methods.}, number={2}, publisher={Turkish Association of Orthopaedics and Traumatology}