title: [Reasonable application of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for the treatment of distal fractures of tibia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the technique and clinical results of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) for the treatment of the distal fractures of tibia by an appropriate plate.
  
  
  METHODS
  From Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2007, 56 patients with the distal tibia fractures were treated with MIPPO through two approaches and three types of plate involving clover plate in 35 cases, anterior L-shape anatomic plate in 12 cases, medial LCP in 9 cases. There were 38 males and 18 females with an average age of 41 years old ranging from 17 to 72 years. According to AO fracture classification for the distal tibial fractures, there were 28 cases of type A, 11 of type B, 17 type C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months (averaged 16 months). All of the fractures showed bone union. The time required for the bony union ranged from 3 to 11 months (averaged 4 months). The patients were evaluated on functional recovery according to Mazur Grating System for the Ankle. The results were excellent in 51 cases, good in 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Choosing effective reasonable approach and plate for the treatment of the distal tibial fractures can obtain satisfactory function, high rate of bone union and less complications.
authors.affiliation: Sichuan Province Orthopaedic Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan, China. liuxiandong@163.com
authors.forename: Xian-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-bing
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zong-de
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xing-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jin-wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012867:Skin; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult