Successful treatment of an open tibial fracture in a 102-year-old woman: a case report

Abstract

Introduction: As the average life expectancy is increasing, the number of patients aged >100 years who have fragility fractures will increase in the future. In female patients, the incidence of open fractures increases with age. Case Presentation: We present the case of a 102-year-old woman with open tibial and fibular diaphyseal fractures (Gustilo-Anderson classification type IIIb) treated with temporary external fixation, advancement flap, and negative pressure wound therapy in the first-stage surgery and treatment, and open reduction and internal fixation with skin grafting in the second-stage surgery. Open wound and bone healing were attained. Conclusion: Surgery should not be denied on the basis of age alone. Medical evaluation should focus on identifying risk factors, assessing risk in detail, optimizing status, predicting complications, and making the appropriate surgical plan for the patient status. Moreover, in the present case, meticulous postoperative management was the main reason for the successful surgical treatment.