title: [Treatment of complicated proximal segmental tibia fractures with the less invasive stabilization locking plate system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proximal segmental tibia fractures are rare injuries. Concomitant soft tissue injury, additional articular involvement and ligament injuries, secondary displacement, infection and pseudarthrosis present high demands for the implant and the surgeon. This clinical study was designed to clarify whether Tibia-LISS is a suitable implant for this type of fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to June 2005, 24 consecutive patients with proximal segmental tibia fractures were evaluated prospectively. All fractures were treated with Tibia-LISS. Follow-up examination was every 4 weeks until fracture healing. The final follow-up examination was at least 1 year after surgery and the average time was 23 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 24 patients, 23 could be considered for the follow up examination. On average 3.4 operations per patient were necessary, in 19 patients the fractures (82.6%) healed within 6 months after surgery, 2 deep-seated infections and 5 postoperative misalignments occurred. No patient suffered from secondary loss of reduction but 11 patients (47.8%) suffered from a complicated healing process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tibia-LISS is a suitable implant for the treatment of proximal segmental tibia fractures with an acceptable rate of complications.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Chirurgie, Schillingallee 35, 18057 Rostock, Deutschland. markus.beck@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gradl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gierer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rotter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mittlmeier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome