WALKING IMPAIRMENTS AFTER SEVERE PILON FRACTURES TREATED WITH CIRCULAR ILIZAROV FRAME

Purpose Pilon fracture is a severe injury which has a great impact on the patients' lives, but in what extend is not clear yet in the literature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gait alternations after treatment of patients who had pilon fractures. Materials & Methods We have evaluated the gait pattern of patients who were treated with circular Ilizarov frame following pilon fractures in our department. The gait was tested by using a force plate in a walking platform. Ground Reaction Forces (GRF) and timing of gait phases data were collected during level walking at self-selected speeds. The patients performed two walking tasks for each limb and the collected data were averaged for each limb. Demographic, clinical, radiological, trauma outcome (COST) and quality of life questionnaire (SF-12) data were also collected. Results We have analysed the gait through the GRF of twelve patients (aged 44.9 ±12.4 years), who had undergone treatment with circular Ilizarov frame following pilon fracture...