title: [Comparison of two minimally invasive internal fixed methods for the treatment of distal tibio-fibula fractures].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the outcome of two minimally invasive internal fixed methods for the treatment of distal tibio-fibula fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 50 patients with distal tibio-fibula fractures from March 2006 to March 2009 was analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-eight patients were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular (Group P + E). There were 18 male and 10 female patients with a mean age of (45 ± 6) years. Twenty-two patients were treated with interlocking intramedullary nail fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular (Group N + E). There were 12 male and 10 female patients with a mean age of (43 ± 9) years. The index of peri-operation, pain score at 3 d postoperative, bone union time, the clinical outcomes and complications postoperative were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistical significance on operation time, blood loss perioperative and pain score at 3 d postoperative. Bone union time in Group N + E was significantly longer than in Group P + E [(21.1 ± 3.0) weeks vs. (15.4 ± 2.9) weeks]. Meanwhile, the function of ankle score (44.3 ± 1.7 vs. 41.8 ± 2.5) and the line of foot score (8.6 ± 2.3 vs. 6.8 ± 3.6) in Group P + E were respectively significantly higher than that in Group N + E. However, there were no statistical difference on ankle pain, buckling add stretch restricted, turn inward add evaginate restricted and the rate of good and fair between the two groups. There were 3 cases of complications postoperation in Group P + E, significantly less than the 8 cases of Group N + E.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular shows superiority in treatment of distal tibio-fibula fractures. However, interlocking intramedullary nail fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular has the advantages in worse soft tissue and multi-step tibio-fibula fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Zeng
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xiao-Long
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Shui
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Lin-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Shan
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome