{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T22:50:08Z","timestamp":1792104608104,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Universa BV","issue":"3","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Acta Orthop Belg"],"abstract":"<jats:p>High-velocity gunshot tibial fractures present major reconstructive challenges owing to extensive contamination, soft-tissue devitalisation, and segmental bone loss that render early internal fixation hazardous. We aimed to document outcomes of a structured Ilizarov-based protocol for this injury type and describe a reproducible treatment framework for resource-constrained settings. Between January 2019 and December 2023, we prospectively enrolled 20 adult male patients with open tibial fractures from high-velocity firearm injuries at three Cairo trauma centres; all were treated definitively with an Ilizarov circular external fixator, with distraction osteogenesis and fibular autografting were employed selectively for segmental bone loss. The primary outcome was fracture union rate; secondary outcomes included fixation duration, surgical burden, and complications. Mean age was 29.7 \u00b1 8.4 years. Fourteen fractures (70%) were Gustilo-Anderson type IIIA and six (30%) type IIIB; bone defects were present in 50% after debridement. Union was achieved in 19 of 20 patients (95%), and the single non-union resolved after frame revision and supplementary grafting. Mean fixation duration was 12.3 \u00b1 7.28 months. Superficial pin-tract infection (Checketts-Otterburn Grade 1 or 2) occurred in 17 patients (85%) and deep surgical site infection in one (5%); ankle stiffness, axial malalignment, and limb length discrepancy each affected a minority of patients. structured Ilizarov protocol can reliably achieve union in Gustilo type III gunshot tibial fractures with an acceptable complication profile; these findings are descriptive and do not establish superiority over alternative fixation strategies but support the Ilizarov circular frame as a suitable option for high-grade contaminated injuries in resource-limited environments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.52628\/92.3.15617","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T22:37:13Z","timestamp":1792103833000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ilizarov Circular Fixation for High-Velocity Firearm Injuries Causing High-Energy Tibial Fractures: A Prospective Cohort Study"],"prefix":"10.52628","volume":"92","author":[{"given":"A.","family":"TAWFEEK","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. M.","family":"FAYED","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M.","family":"ELGEBEILY","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"A. R.","family":"AHMED","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"27062","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"container-title":["Acta Orthopaedica Belgica"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T22:37:16Z","timestamp":1792103836000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.actaorthopaedica.be\/archive\/volume-92\/autumn\/experimental-basic-science-research\/ilizarov-circular-fixation-for-high-velocity-firearm-injuries-causing-high-energy-tibial-f\/"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.52628\/92.3.15617","relation":{},"ISSN":["0001-6462"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0001-6462","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10]]}}}