Distal Tibial Reconstruction with Use of a Circular External Fixator and an Intramedullary Nail

Levent Eralp, MD and Mehmet Kocaoglu, MD

Distal tibial reconstruction with use of an external fixator when there is bone loss, limb-length discrepancy, and/or ankle instability is associated with many problems. The technique of limb-lengthening, ankle arthrodesis, and segmental transfer over an intramedullary nail has been introduced to overcome these problems. The combined technique is an improvement over the classic external fixation techniques of distal tibial reconstruction with ankle arthrodesis. It reduces the duration of external fixation, thus increasing patient acceptance, and it is associated with a low complication rate facilitating more rapid rehabilitation. In this submitted JBJS video supplement to the article, Levent Eralp, MD and Mehmet Kocaoglu, MD demonstrate their surgical technique.

Material Covered

• Subtalar Joint Preparation
• Intramedullary Reaming
• Nail Insertion & Initial Fixation
• Definitive Nail Fixation
• Circular External Fixator
• Removal of Fixator

Specifications

• Total Run Time: 27:07 minutes
• Catalog Number: 6020
• VJO Publication Date: March, 2008