A Clinical Study of Butterfly Tibia Fractures

Recently, the incidence of fracture of tibial shaft has risen as a result of rapidly increased automobile and industrial accidents. Seventy adult patients with butterfly fracture of the tibia were treated at the Depatment of Orthopaedic Surgery. Ewha Womans University Hospital from january, 1977 to December, 1986. A retrospective clinical study was done on 70 cases. The results were as follows : 1) Fractures were predominant in male and the twenties. 2) According to the Johner's criteria, middle segments showed the highest incidence(88.6%). 3) Valgus, varus, extension & flexion types were in the ratio 60 : 3 : 2 : 5. 4) Closed Kuntscher nailing group showed the earliest bone union and among the lateral DCP fixation, varus type showed earlier bone union than other types. 5) Among the valgus type fractures that treated with DCP fixation without autogenous bone graft. there were medial cortical absorptions in 10 cases and 5 patients complained of pain and tenderness. But there was no such complication in the bone graft group.