INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING OF GUSTILO TYPE II OPEN FRACTURES OF THE LEG: ABOUT 24 CASES IN THE ORTHOPEDICS-TRAUMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF THE DONKA NATIONAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the management of Gustilo type II open fractures of the leg by intramedullary nailing in the Orthopedics-Traumatology department of the Donka National Hospital.

 Methodology: This was a continuous retrospective study of forty-six months (46) from January 1, 2019 to October 30, 2023. We made Kuntcher type alignment nails without image intensifier. Patients were evaluated after a mean follow-up of 19.47 months according to the Johnner and Wruh evaluation criteria.

Results: A total of 24 Gustilo type II open fractures of the leg were collected. There were 19 men and 5 women with a sex ratio of 3.8 with an average age of 44.5 years with extremes of 20 and 69 years. The average time to treat fractures was 99.5 hours. The etiologies dominated by road traffic accidents (two-wheeled vehicles 95.84% and vehicles 4.17%). Workers were the most affected (9.16%). The average length of stay was 9.66 days. The complications encountered were late postoperative infection and knee pain. Our results were excellent in 65.21%, 30.43% good results and 4.34% fairly good results.

Conclusion: Open leg fractures are common injuries. Intramedullary nailing of these fractures gives good functional results. It can be done without an image intensifier provided you know its limits.