Table 2.
Comparison of statistic data for major results after operation among the three groups
| Group | Patients (n) | Operation Time(min) | Blood Loss (ml) | Costs* (1000 $) | Imageological healing time of fracture(months) | Complications | Ankle function excellent and good rates(%) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fracture union, n | Infection, n | |||||||||||
| Delayed union | Non-union | Total | Wound infection | Pin tract infection | Total | |||||||
| A | 33 | 142.27 ± 47.05 | 177.27 ± 134.68 | 6.48 ± 1.11 | 6.90 ± 1.33 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 69.70%(23/33) |
| B | 29 | 184.00 ± 48.56a | 206.21 ± 112.48 | 9.37 ± 2.16a | 6.70 ± 1.12 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 72.41%(21/29) |
| C | 25 | 114.92 ± 36.09ab | 157.60 ± 72.98 | 5.24 ± 1.21ab | 5.67 ± 1.42ab | 1 | 1 | 2ab | 1 | 2 | 3 | 84.00%(21/25) |
| P | – | <0.05 | >0.05 | <0.05 | <0.05 | – | – | <0.05 | >0.05 | >0.05 | >0.05 | >0.05 |
Group A: simple external fixator fixation
Group B: external fixator combined with plate-screw osteosynthesis
Group C: external fixator combined with k-wire intramedullary fixation
Costs*: include surgical costs and implants costs such as external fixator, steel plate, screws and kirschner wire
aP<0.05 compared with Group A
bP<0.05 compared with Group B