title: Surgical technique for minimally invasive fibula fracture fixation.
abstract: This paper describes a minimally invasive percutaneous technique for reduction and fixation of distal fibula fractures using plate osteosynthesis. We believe this technique benefits patients with poor quality soft tissue envelopes. So far a total of 25 patients have undergone percutaneous fixation, 22 females and 3 males. At no stage yet has a minimally invasive procedure been abandoned intra-operatively in favour of conversion to an open procedure. The mean age was 61.6 years (range 25-80 years). The mean time to surgery was 2.00 days (range 0-5) and mean time to discharge was 4.20 days (range 1-9). At a minimum of over 1 year's follow-up all fractures have healed, with no delayed unions or complications so far experienced.
authors.affiliation: Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW, UK. graeme_carlile@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Carlile
authors.forename: N C L
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Giles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies