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Background and Objective: Open fractures mostly appear in leg (24%), and often accompany with soft tissue defects that predispose the limb for amputation. One of the best ways for limb salvage is to support both bone and soft tissue by the means of soft tissue reconstructing surgeries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of soft tissue reconstruction surgeries in legs open fractures. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 59 patients with leg open fractures and soft tissue reconstruction surgery at Shahid Kamyab hospital in Mashhad, North-East of Iran during 2004-05. Individual characteristic, clinical and physical examination, and outcome of the surgery were gathered in a questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and Chi-Square test. Results: Eight patients excluded and finally the study was done of 51 patients. Out of 51 patients 84.3% were male with mean age of 30 years. Leg open fractures in 76.5% of patients was IIIB type. Surgery was successful in 76.5% of patients. Delayed ::::union:::: occurred in 56.9% and osteomyelitis in 33.13% of patients. There was a correlation between the time of soft tissue reconstruction and ::::union::::, deep infection and osteomyelitis (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that high frequency of deep infection, osteomyelitis and delayed ::::union:::: due to leg open fractures with lack of soft tissue.

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Background and Objective: Chronic osteomyelitis with huge bone defect is one of the most catastrophic problems in long bone fractures. This study was done to evaluate the distraction osteogenesis with AO tubular external fixator in chronic osteomyelitis with huge bone defect. Methods: In this descriptive study, 12 patients (11 males, 1 woman) with chronic osteomyelitis with huge bone defect underwent distraction osteogenesis with AO tubular external fixator in 5th Azar teaching hospital in Gorgan, Iran. Patients were followed up for 16 months and the onset of re-infection, bone graft, pin loosening, refracture and neurovascular injury were evaluated. Results: All of fractures were open, due to vehicle accident. The fractures include four legs, seven femurs and one tibial plateu fracture. Primary fixation was done with plate (5 cases), Intramedullary Nail (5 cases) and skeletal traction (2 cases). Mean time onset of fracture to treatment with AO tubular external fixator was 75.5 days. Mean sequestrum length was 8.8 cm which it was in femur 10.71 cm and in leg was 6 cm. Mean overall treatment was 16.08 months or 1.91 month/cm. Re-infection and neurovascular injury were not seen. Eight superficial infections treated with antibiotic and four cases of pin loosening were assembled with pin fixation. Seven cases required bone grafting. Premature consolidation in five cases and deviation of bone transport segment were found in four patients which treated with modification in external fixation. Conclusion: Distraction osteogenesis using AO tubular external fixator in chronic osteomyelitis with huge bone defect is suitable treatment method, saving the organ and prevents the amputation.