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Pilon Fracture

A Pilon fracture is a special type of fracture called a pilon fracture refers to a break in the very end of the shin bone (tibia and fibula) just above the ankle. These are a potentially disastrous injury and the risks are even higher if the skin is breached (an open fracture).

The blood supply to this area of the body is poor and the resulting massive swelling further compromises the healing of the bone.

Polon Fracture Treatment

Until recently, optimal treatment involved opening the skin and applying pins and plates to the bones. Few patients ever recovered full ankle function and the risk of complications after surgery was extraordinarily high, with skin loss and wound breakdown with infection of the metalwork and fracture commonplace.

Now it is becoming clear that Ilizarov fixators in fractures are the optimal treatment form for this injury; instead of large wounds in the skin, a few puncture wounds are all that is necessary to allow application of the frame. Although there are complications with this treatment, the overall results look better by far.

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