Double Plating of Proximal Tibial Fractures Using Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Osteosynthesis Technique

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results and its efficacy of double plating for proximal tibial fractures using minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique. MATERIAL & METHODS: Twenty-three fractures, followed-up more than 1 year, were included in this retrospective study. There were 18 men and 5 women, and the mean age was 53.5 years-old. According to the AO-OTA classification, five were 41A, 13 were 41C, and 5 were 42. There were four open fractures (grade I- three, grade III A-one case). The plates were fixed on the medial and lateral sides of tibia with MIPO technique. Functional and radiographic results were evaluated by the modified Rasmussen system. RESULTS: All fractures healed without bone graft, and the mean period for fracture healing was 19.3 weeks (range, 10~32 weeks). All other patients had excellent or good clinical or radiological results, except for two patients of a fair clinical result after a combined injury. Complications included one case of shortening (1 cm) and two cases of mal-alignments (varus less than 10 degrees). There was one case of superficial infection, but no patient showed deep infection. CONCLUSION: Double plating using MIPO technique can provide favorable results in the treatment of proximal tibial fractures.