Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42371440›Full record

ArticleCureus2026

Role of Hybrid Fixator in Proximal Tibial Fractures: A Prospective Evaluation of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes.

Happy Kumar, Jagdeep S Rehncy, Girish Sahni, Arvind Kumar, Harsh Kumar, Devashish Gautam

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Happy KumarDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Government Medical College Patiala, Patiala, IND.
Jagdeep S RehncyDepartment of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Patiala, Patiala, IND.
Girish SahniDepartment of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Patiala, Patiala, IND.
Arvind KumarDepartment of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Patiala, Patiala, IND.
Harsh KumarDepartment of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College Patiala, Patiala, IND.
Devashish GautamDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Government Medical College, Patiala, Patiala, IND.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background Management of complex proximal tibial fractures is challenging due to periarticular comminution and associated soft-tissue compromise. Hybrid external fixation has been proposed as an alternative to internal fixation in such cases. This study aimed to evaluate the functional and radiological outcomes of hybrid external fixation in proximal tibial fractures. Methods This was a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital over one year. Thirty adult patients with periarticular or intra-articular proximal tibial fractures were treated using hybrid external fixation. Patients were followed up for a mean duration of six months. Functional and radiological outcomes were assessed at final follow-up using Rasmussen's functional and radiological scoring systems. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results Thirty patients with complex proximal tibial fractures were included. The mean age was 48.2 ± 11.86 years, with a male predominance (63.33%). Road traffic accidents accounted for 83.33% of injuries, and most fractures were Schatzker type V (36.67%) or VI (43.33%). The mean injury-to-surgery interval was 2.7 ± 1.1 days, and postoperative weight bearing was initiated at 8.68 ± 1.26 weeks. The mean Rasmussen functional score was 26.37 ± 3.3, with excellent-to-good functional outcomes in 83.34% of patients. Excellent-to-good radiological outcomes were achieved in 86.67%. Pin-tract infection was the most common complication (16.67%), while 63.33% of patients had no complications. Conclusion Hybrid external fixation resulted in acceptable short-term functional and radiological outcomes in complex proximal tibial fractures, particularly following high-energy trauma with soft-tissue compromise. The procedure demonstrated a manageable complication profile; however, conclusions are limited by the small sample size, descriptive design, and short follow-up. Larger comparative studies are required to better define its role in this fracture subset.

Indexed as

external fixation (umex)fracture healing factorsmajor traumaproximal tibial fracturesroad traffic injuries

Identifiers

PMID42371440
PMCPMC13310355

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.