British

Orthopaedic
Association

AFFIX PATIENT DETAIL STICKER NHS Organisation………………….

HERE
Attending Consultant……………….
Forename…………………………..
Job Title……………………………
Surname……………………………

Hospital Number…………………...

D.O.B…../……./……

OPERATION: ……… Tibial External Fixator application

+/- wound debridement +/- Primary closure

PROCEDURE: The tibia is the long shin bone in the lower leg. It is a weight
bearing bone and will need to be fixed for you to walk on it. Your surgeon feel that
the best way to hold the bone together is to hold the bone in position with an external
fixator to allow proper bone healing.

There is also a wound where the bone may have come out of the skin or dirt may have
gone in to the bone. This wound allows bugs to get into the body. This can cause an
infection. The wound needs to be thoroughly washed and any tissue (skin etc) which
looks dirty needs to be trimmed away. If the surgeon is happy, the wound can be
closed with stitches. Otherwise it will be left open and closed at a later day or covered
by the plastic surgeons.

This means you will most likely not have to wear a cast, but you are still advised to
not put any weight through the leg for many weeks.

Your surgeon will see you the day before or the day of the operation. The surgeon
will draw on (mark with a felt pen) your leg to make sure the correct leg is operated
on. If you have any questions, now might be a good time to ask them.

When you are asleep, the surgeon will clean the leg with anti-septic solution and place
clean towels (drapes) around the site.

Numerous pins will be placed along the tibia and then these will be linked together
when the position of the bone is satisfactory. The surgeon will take X-rays at regular
intervals to make sure that the position of the bone is correct.

When the surgeon is happy with the X-ray position of the fracture and the frame, the
wound will be dealt with. The wounds are debrided (cleaned) and thoroughly washed
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Orthopaedic
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out (irrigated). This is to try and get rid of as much foreign dirt and bugs from the
wound.

When you wake up, you leg will sore, this is normal. You will have a bandage across
the lower leg. If the pain is excruciating, you must tell the nursing staff.

You will have repeat X-rays and a blood test the day after and will be shown how to
walk with crutches without putting weight through the affected leg.

***Please be aware that a surgeon other than a consultant, but with adequate training
or supervision may perform the operation***

ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE: When your tibia has been broken it is

very advisable to have it fixed. Not fixing may result in non-healing, delayed union or
mal-union. All these can cause quite significant disability and long term problems.

There may be other options available to treat this fracture; these including external
nailing or plating. However, it is the suggestion of the consultant surgeon looking
after you that external fixator is the best option. You are of course entitled to a second
opinion.

There MAY also be a non-operative option. This would be to place the fractured leg
in a cast and regularly x-ray to watch the bone healing. You will have to be non-
weight bearing and there is a very high risk of non-union (when the bone ends do not
fix properly of do not meet at all) in these fractures which may eventually require an
operation such as the one above.

NB plaster cast is not appropriate for some fractures.

RISKS
As with all procedures, this carries some risks and complications.

COMMON (2-5%)
Pain: There will inevitably be some pain after the operation. This may be
around the wound site, the fracture site or at the ankle or knee. If you are
in pain it is important that you ask for pain killers. Pain will decrease
over the next few days to weeks as the bone heals and the swelling
decreases. Very rarely, pain may continue. This may be due to failed
fixation in which case another operation may have to be performed.
Bleeding: There will be some bleeding. This is usually minimal and can be stopped
at the time of operation. Very occasionally a blood transfusion or iron
tablets may be necessary
Infection: the wound site may become red, swollen and painful. There may also be
discharge. If this occurs, antibiotics may need to be given. If the
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metalwork becomes involved, it may be removed. There may be spread of

the infection to bone or blood (sepsis). Again antibiotics may be
necessary. Extremely rarely, very severe local infections my require the
leg to amputated.
Numbness: the skin around the wound sites may be temporarily or more permanently
numb.

LESS COMMON (1-2%)

Delayed surgery: this may be necessary as the swelling at time of initial operation
maybe too great to proceed.
Stiffness of the joints around the fracture: may occur and may require vigorous
physiotherapy
Stiffness: and osteoarthritis may continue. This may require vigorous physiotherapy
and or repeat surgery.
Fat embolus: the fat in the middle of the bone (marrow) may be spread to the blood
and eventually the lungs during manipulation or during the original
break. This can cause severe breathing problems and even death.
Blood clots: a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) is a blood clot in a vein. These may
present as red, painful and swollen legs (usually). The risks of
developing a DVT are greater after any surgery (and especially bone
surgery). Although not a problem themselves, a DVT can pass in the
blood stream and be deposited in the lungs (a pulmonary embolism –
PE). This is a very serious condition which affects your breathing. Your
surgeon will give you medication through a needle to try and limit this
risk of DVTs from forming. Some centres will also ask you to wears
stockings on your legs, while others may use foot pumps to keep blood
circulating around the leg. Start to walk and getting moving is one of
the best ways to prevent blood clots from forming.
Catheterisation: if you have difficulty in passing urine immediately after the
operation, the team may pass a tube into the bladder. This is usually
temporary.

RARE (<1%)
Compartment syndrome: this is a build up pressure within the lower leg and can cause
pain, nerve damage, blood vessel damage and muscle damage. If this
occurs, an emergency operation will have to be performed to prevent death
of tissue of the lower leg/ foot.
Damage to the skin under the tourniquet: this may require dressing, surgery or skin
graft. There may also be numbness of the skin under the tourniquet, this is
usually temporary.
Failed reduction: this is difficulty in aligning the two ends of broken bone. In this
case, the operation may need to be repeated or an alternative operation may
be done at a later date.
Removal of metalwork: this may be necessary if it becomes infected or painful or
damages the skin. Sometimes, the nail can be removed to allow greater
movement once the bone has healed.
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Abnormal wound healing: the scar may become thick, red and painful (keloid scar).
This is more common in Afro-Caribbean’s.
Deformity of the leg: the bone may not heal in its intended alignment. This may
require physiotherapy or further operation (including removal of nail).
Delayed or non-union of fracture: this is when the bone ends do not unite adequately.
At this point, a bone graft or further surgery may be necessary.
Altered leg length: the leg which has been operated upon may appear shorter or longer
than the other. This may require a further operation to correct the difference
or physiotherapy.
Compartment syndrome: this is a build up pressure within the leg and can cause pain,
nerve damage, blood vessel damage and muscle damage. If this occurs,
an emergency operation will have to be performed to prevent death of the
lower leg/ foot.

Confirmation of consent :
The doctor has explained the above complications, risks and alternative treatments to
me as well as not having the procedure.
I hereby give my consent for the above procedure

Signature………………………………………………….

Print name……………………………………………………….....

Date………./…/20…

2nd Confirmation………………...............…… .Date…………./…..20….

NAME of SURGEON (Capital letters)………………………………..

SIGNATURE of SURGEON………………………………………….

POSITION……………………………………………………………..

If you have any complaints about your treatment or your care, you are
always encouraged to discuss them with your surgical team.

However, if you wish to complain to the trust, each hospital will have a
PALS or Patient Advise and Liaison Service. The head nurse on the ward or
out patients’ clinic can direct you to them. The PALS team will treat all
complaints seriously.

I also give permission for my data and results to be used for any research
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Orthopaedic
Association

Signed ………………………… Date …………………..