Objective: 57 open tibia fractures treated with external fixation during the period 1996–2001 are presented.

Material and Methods: 57 open tibia fractures concerning 52 patients (45 males, 12 females) were treated with external fixation during the period 1996–2001. Fracture classification according Gustilo included 5 type I fractures, 14 type II fractures, 18 type IIIA fractures and 20 type IIIB fractures. The following external fixation devices were used: STAR in 3 patients, EXFIRE in 9 patients, HOFFMANN in 18 patients, ORTHOFIX in 27 patients. All open wounds were left to heal at secondary intention. The devices were fully functional within 4 to 8 weeks in 37 patients depending on the type of the fracture.

Results: 39 fractures were completely healed in a mean time of 16 weeks. Nine fractures had delayed union and finally were completely healed without using alternate devices. In 8 cases there was pseudarthrosis; internal fixation with intramedullary nail was used in seven of these cases, and 2 cases were treated with grafts. One case was complicated with septic pseudarthrosis that was treated by bone transfer in a tertiary centre.

Wound healing was achieved in 45 cases. Delayed skin surgical closure was needed in 12 cases. Needle infection rate was 27%, while in 4 cases there was deep infection and needles were removed.

Conclusion: For the vast majority of open tibia fractures, external fixation can be used as a permanent way of treatment. Clinicians should set external fixation with this permanent prospective.