External fixator combined with three different fixation methods of fibula for treatment of extra-articular open fractures of distal tibia and fibula: a retrospective study

Table 2 Comparison of statistic data for major results after operation among the three groups

Group	Patients (n)	Operation Time(min)	Blood Loss (ml)	Costs* (1000 $)	Imageological healing time of fracture(months)	Complications						Ankle function excellent and good rates(%)
						Fracture union, n			Infection, n
						Delayed union	Non-union	Total	Wound infection	Pin tract infection	Total
A	33	142.27 ± 47.05	177.27 ± 134.68	6.48 ± 1.11	6.90 ± 1.33	6	7	13	2	2	4	69.70%(23/33)
B	29	184.00 ± 48.56^a	206.21 ± 112.48	9.37 ± 2.16^a	6.70 ± 1.12	7	4	11	4	3	7	72.41%(21/29)
C	25	114.92 ± 36.09^ab	157.60 ± 72.98	5.24 ± 1.21^ab	5.67 ± 1.42^ab	1	1	2^ab	1	2	3	84.00%(21/25)
P	–	<0.05	>0.05	<0.05	<0.05	–	–	<0.05	>0.05	>0.05	>0.05	>0.05

Group A: simple external fixator fixation
Group B: external fixator combined with plate-screw osteosynthesis
Group C: external fixator combined with k-wire intramedullary fixation
Costs*: include surgical costs and implants costs such as external fixator, steel plate, screws and kirschner wire
^aP<0.05 compared with Group A
^bP<0.05 compared with Group B

ISSN: 1471-2474