Percutaneous plate stabilization of proximal tibial fractures.
BACKGROUND
Despite various treatment methods, proximal tibial fractures are common injuries associated with poor outcomes and high rates of complications. To improve this, a percutaneous plating technique was performed to treat proximal tibial fractures.


METHODS
Twenty-four proximal tibial fractures (17 proximal fractures [AO 41] and 7 proximal shaft fractures [AO 42]) were treated using percutaneous plating with either or both sides without bone graft. One was an open fracture.


RESULTS
All fractures healed. The average time for fracture healing was 16.5 weeks (range, 8-24 weeks). Complications included one case of shortening (1 cm) and two cases of malalignments; one valgus of 6 degrees and one varus of 5 degrees. There was one case of superficial infection that was healed after removal, but no patient showed deep infection. Results were evaluated by the modified Rasmussen scoring system. Most patients had excellent or good results; only one patient had fair results.


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive percutaneous plating can provide favorable results in the treatment of proximal tibial fractures.
Oh
Jong-Keun
JK
Ehwa Women's University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Oh
Chang-Wug
CW
Jeon
In-Ho
IH
Kim
Sung-Jung
SJ
Kyung
Hee-Soo
HS
Park
Il-Hyung
IH
Kim
Poong-Taek
PT
Ihn
Joo-Chul
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*