A Short-term Evaluation of Limb Reconstruction System as a Primary and Definitive Mode of Management in Fresh Open Fracture in Both Bones of Leg

Kanchan Gurung

doi:10.37591/rrjos.v12i2.3361

Abstract

Open fractures require immediate surgical intervention, emphasizing prompt intravenous antibiotic therapy, irrigation, and debridement to minimize infection risks. The Limb Reconstruction System (LRS), which includes Shanz pins, rail rods, and sliding clamps, operates as a single-plane, one-sided rail system. This system provides strong fracture fixation, allows for early weight-bearing, and helps minimize costs. Challenges arise in tibial open fractures due to substantial soft tissue damage and bone loss, often resulting from industrial and road accidents, with motor vehicle incidents and sports injuries as primary causes. In India, the yearly occurrence of more than 4.5 million open fractures, primarily impacting the tibia, highlights the importance of this problem. When addressing open fractures as surgical emergencies, the emphasis is on controlling infections, providing soft tissue coverage, and stabilizing fractures. Treatment options include both internal and external fixation, ring fixators, and vascularized bone grafts. Conventional protocols entail debridement, external fixation, wound closure, followed by intramedullary interlocking nail insertion post-wound healing. However, challenges like multiple surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, infection risks, and financial burdens led to the adoption of LRS as a definitive management approach for open fractures. In comparison, LRS emerges as a user-friendly and efficient external fixation device, delivering favorable union rates with a straightforward frame construction, setting it apart from Illizarov's fixators. The versatility of LRS, allowing distraction, compression of fractures, and dynamization, further enhances its suitability for managing open tibial fractures

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