Minimally invasive treatment of distal tibial fractures with locking and non-locking plates.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical performances of stainless steel nonlocking plates and titanium locking plates in minimally invasive medial plating of extra-articular metaphyseal fractures of the distal tibia.


METHODS
Between 2004 and 2006, 43 patients who sustained closed fractures of the distal tibia metaphysis were managed with either a stainless steel nonlocking plate (Group 1, n = 21) or a titanium locking plate (Group 2, n = 22). Clinical and radiographic data were retrospectively reviewed. Function was assessed with use of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot instrument. The average followup period was 25 months.


RESULTS
The average AOFAS foot and ankle scores in Group 1 and Group 2 at final followup were 85 and 81, respectively. Fracture reduction was anatomical or nearly anatomical without angular displacement in all cases except one patient in Group 2. (p > 0.05) The average time to full, unprotected weightbearing in Group 1 and Group 2 were 15 weeks and 18 weeks, respectively (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Minimally invasive medial plating with titanium locking plates resulted in prolonged secondary healing both in comminuted and simple fracture patterns compared to conventional stainless steel nonlocking plates. We believe that in biological fixation of distal tibial fractures, similarly good results may be obtained with both materials as the locking technology had a greater effect on stability.
Ozkaya
Ufuk
U
Taksim Training and Research Hospital, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Simathraselviler Street No: 149-151 Beyoglu, Istanbul 34540, Turkey. ufukozkaya2004@yahoo.com
Parmaksizoglu
Atilla S
AS
Gul
Murat
M
Sokucu
Sami
S
Kabukcuoglu
Yavuz
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013193:Stainless Steel; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium