Abstract: Objective To explore the clinical outcome of unilateral external fixator combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technology in the treatment of tibiofibula Gustilo Ⅲ type fracture. Methods A total of 57 patients who were treated with unilateral external fixator combined with VSD from July 2010 to April 2015 were taken as observation group, and 59 patients who were treated with open reduction and plate fixation from July 2006 to June 2010 were selected as control group. The average osseous healing time, length of hospital staying, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications of the two groups were observed. All the patients were followed up for half a year. Results The average osseous healing time[(180.65±30.36)d], length of hospital staying[(27.84±3.87)d], intraoperative blood loss[(393.56±12.09)mL] in observation group were significantly lower than those of control group[(340.00±40.51)d, (46.27±4.84)d and (545.36±50.40)mL, all P<0.05]. The osteomyelitis rate(1.75%), superficial infection rate(5.26%) and malunion rate(0.00%) in observation group were respectively lower than those in control group (11.86%, 21.05%, 8.47%, all P<0.05). The rates of good and excellent/good in observation group were 80.70% and 91.23%, which were significantly higher than those in control group (61.02% and 77.97%, all P<0.05). Conclusion Unilateral external fixator combined with VSD is a good way to treat tibiofibula Gustilo Ⅲ type fracture, which is beneficial to fracture healing and can reduce the length of hospital stay and complications.

Key words: Closed negative pressure drainage technology, Tibiofibula, Gustilo Ⅲ type fracture, Unilateral external fixator