ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of limited open reduction combined with percutaneous medial locking plate in treatment of Rüedi-Allg(o)wer type Ⅱ and Ⅲ closed tibial pilon fractures.Methods A retrospective case-control analysis was made on 45 cases of closed tibial pilon fractures treated surgically between June 2008 and December 2015.There were 33 males and 12 females,aged from 26-66 years (mean,44.6 years).All cases were unilateral tibial pilon fractures,among which 18 were on the left while 27 were on the right.Thirty-four cases were combined with fibular fractures.There were 14 cases of type Ⅱ fractures and 31 type Ⅲ fractures according to the Rüedi-Allg(o)wer classification.Using the Tscheme-Gotzen system to evaluate soft tissue injury,two patients were in grade 1,29 patients in grade 2,and five patients in grade 3.On the basis of surgical methods,the cases were divided into Group A,limited open reduction with percutaneous medial locking plate and Group B,conventional open reduction.The operation time,reduction quality,fracture healing time,American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scale at final follow-up visit and complications were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results The operation time of Group A was shorter than that of Group B (P ＜ 0.05).All patients had been followed up for 12-24 months,among which Group A was 22.5 months and Group B was 20.0 months (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with Group B,Group A was superior in fracture healing time (P ＜ 0.05) and AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scale(P ＜0.05),but was inferior in reduction quality (P ＜ 0.05).Poor wound healing was observed in two cases in each group,yet there was no nonunion in all cases.Conclusion Compared with conventional open reduction,the limited open reduction combined with percutaneous medial locking plate has more advantages in operation time and fracture healing,which can achieve better ankle functions for closed tibial pilon fractures.