Tibial pilon fractures

Summary

The studies summarized in this report do not provide conclusive evidence regarding the superiority of internal or external fixation in the treatment of tibial pilon fractures: clinical and functional outcomes are similar across both groups and the difference in complication rates is ambiguous. There may be some indication that external fixation gives rise to slower union times and a higher rate of malunions and nonunions compared with internal fixation, however, more severely injured patients (patients with high grade closed fractures and any grade open fractures) tended to receive external fixation, which makes direct comparisons between the two groups difficult.