title: Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis in Open Pediatric Tibial Fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness and reliability of limited-contact locking plates in minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis (MIPO) of the lateral tibia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study included 14 patients who were operatively treated with an MIPO technique due to open tibial fractures between 2006 and 2012. The patients were 11 males and 3 females with a mean age of 13.2 (range, 9 to 16) years. The patients were followed up for a mean period of 2.4 (range, 1 to 5) years. The mechanism of the injuries included a motor vehicle accident (n=11), a shotgun injury (n=2), and a fall from height (n=1). According to the Gustilo-Anderson classification, 10 patients had type I (72%), 2 had type II (14%), and 2 had type III (14%) open fractures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean time to radiologic union was 18 (range, 11 to 32) weeks. No infection was detected that would require implant removal. No complications such as early epiphyseal closure, angulation, or limb-length inequality were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limited-contact locking plates in MIPO of the lateral tibia is an effective alternative method in the treatment of open pediatric tibial fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV-therapeutic.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Dicle University Faculty of Dentistry, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors: Emin
authors: E
authors: Özkul
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Gem
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Arslan
authors: Celil
authors: C
authors: Alemdar
authors: İbrahim
authors: İ
authors: Azboy
authors: Seher G
authors: SG
authors: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D001860:Bone Plates; D002648:Child; D020878:Device Removal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011871:Radiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery