Unilateral external fixation of the tibial shaft malunion

Introduction/Objective. Fracture malunion is still a major problem in orthopaedic practice. The external fixation of tibial fracture malunion has become popular in recent years. The objective of this work was to evaluate clinical results in tibial shaft malunion treatment based on unilateral external fixation method. Methods. The patients with tibial shaft malunion have surgically been treated by unilateral Mitkovic external fixation system. Malunion deformities were corrected by “one stage” technique, using Mitkovic-CD type external fixator, or gradually, using Mitković-V type external fixator. This retrospective study included 15 patients with tibial shaft angular malunion. The main type of malunion was valgus deformity, in 10 patients, and varus deformity, in five patients. Results. The mean healing time was 89.66 days (range 50–125). There were no complications in the present study. The follow-up time after surgery was three years. Final functional results were excellent in 13 cases and good in two cases. Conclusion. This unilateral external fixator system was successfully used in the treatment of tibial shaft malunion, with good results and low complications rate. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III41017: Virtual human osteoarticular system and its application in preclinical and clinical practice]