Objectives: To report our experience in minimally invasive treatment for closed and of the distal tibia but no indication of intramedullary nailing. Subjects and methods: Twenty two patients underwent minimally invasive treatment for closed fractures of distal locking plate reduction under C-arm. | JOURNAL OF MILITARY PHARMACO-MEDICINE N09-2017 Ho Huu Phuoc* SUMMARY Objectives: To report our experience in minimally invasive treatment for closed and unstable fractures of the distal tibia but no indication of intramedullary nailing. Subjects and methods: Twenty two patients underwent minimally invasive treatment for closed fractures of distal tibia with locking plate reduction under C-arm. Fractures were classified according to the AO system. Results: Mean age was years (ranged 16 - 72 years old). Mean time from surgery to full weight-bearing was 11 weeks (ranged 9 - 16 weeks) and until union was 21 weeks (ranged 17 - 23 weeks) without further surgery. Complications were found in two cases (one case of superficial infection, the other of implant exposure and no failures in fixation). Conclusion: Minimally invasive treatment for fractures of distal tibia with locking plate reduction under C-arm is an effective treatment for distal tibia, which avoids the complications associated with other traditional methods of internal fixation and/or external fixation. * Keywords: Distal tibia fracture; Minimally invasive; Locking compression plate. INTRODUCTION Although diaphyseal fractures of the tibia were treated by intramedullary nailing, unstable fracture of the distal tibia fractures extension can present a management dilemma. The management of fractures of the distal tibia has been controversial. Open reduction and internal fixation requires extensive soft tissue dissection. High rates of complications including infection, delayed union and non-union have been reported [1, 2, 6]. Similarly, external fixation of distal tibia fractures have an established place in the treatment, particularly where associated with significant soft tissue injury [5]. Minimally invasive treatment for fractures of distal tibia with locking compression plate reduction under C-arm is a technique aiming to reduce iatrogenic soft tissue injury and damage to bone vascularity, as well as .
