title: Complications and functional outcome after fixation of distal tibia fractures with locking plate - A multicentre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of complications and the functional outcome following ORIF with low-profile locking plates in patients with distal tibia fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data was retrieved using county databases, operation books, health record and X-ray images for 6 hospitals (1 level 1, 5 level 2) in the Region of Southern Denmark. Between January 2007 and April 2011 70 consecutive patients with 71 distal tibia fractures were treated with low-profile locking plate were included. The proportion of post-operative complications, classified as minor and major complications, was retrieved from electronic health records and patient interviews. Long-term functional outcome assessed by EuroQol EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, AOFAS Ankle-Hindfoot scale, and return to pre-injury job function through patient interview and examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 32 43A, 5 43B and 34 43C-fractures, 12 open and 10 high-energy fractures. Forty-nine cases (69%) experienced complications during the follow-up time, of which 34 were minor complications and 15 were major complications. Median EQ-5D-5L index value was 0.76, median EQ VAS-score was 80, and median AOFAS score was 73. Thirty-three percent of working patients had not returned to work as a result of the fracture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggest that treatment of distal tibia fractures with low-profile locking plates might have a higher proportion of complications and worse functional outcome than previously reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic level IV Case Serie.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Electronic address: bjarke.viberg@rsyd.dk.
authors.forename: Bjarke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Viberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Silje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleven
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamborg-Petersen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Skov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001860:Bone Plates; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Complications; Distal tibia fracture; Functional outcome; Locking plate; Pilon