Abstract:[Objective] To investigate the effectiveness of axial load-sharing ratio test in assessing the rigidity of callus of tibial frac-tures for the removal of unilateral external fixator. [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 49 patients who were admitted toTianjin Hospital for tibial fractures from January 2017 to July 2020. All patients received unilateral external fixator within 2 weeks after in-jury. According to random number table method, axial load sharing ratio was measured in 24 patients (the tested group), while not tested inother 25 patients (the routine group). The perioperative, follow-up and imaging data of the two groups were compared. [Results] All patientsin both groups had the treatment completed successfully, without significant differences in operation time, total incision length, intraopera-tive blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, walking time, incision healing, hospital stay, and adjustment time of external fixator be-tween the two groups (P>0.05). With time of follow-up period lasted for (10.5±2.4) months on an average, the VAS score, knee flexion-ex-tension rang of motion (ROM) and ankle plantar flexion-dorsal extension ROM significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05), which werenot statistically significant between the two groups at any time points accordingly (P>0.05). However, the time interval bearing the externalframe in the tested group was significantly less than that in the routine group [(198.8±36.4) days vs (315.7±51.8) days, P<0.001], whereasthere were no significant differences in adverse events, such as incidence of pin infection and refracture between the two groups (P>0.05).As for imaging, the tibial alignment significantly improved in both groups after frame adjustment compared with that immediately after oper-ation (P<0.05), while the quality of callus formation in both groups gradually improved over time (P<0.05). However, the routine group hadsignificantly better the quality of callus on images than the tested group at the time of frame removal [excellent/good/poor, (23/2/0) vs (13/11/0), P=0.002]. [Conclusion] Regular application of axial load sharing ratio test can safely and timely guide the removal of unilateral externalfixator for tibial fracture, and the effect is safe and reliable.