title: Minimally invasive percutaneous plates versus conventional fixation techniques for distal tibial fractures: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This meta-analysis was performed to determine the effects of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) versus conventional fixation techniques (CFT) for treating distal tibial fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed in EMBASE, Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The trials searched were evaluated for eligibility. The Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager software was used to perform meta-analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies were enrolled, including five randomized controlled trials, one control-matched trial and two retrospective cohort trials. The meta-analysis revealed that MIPO has a longer operating time, longer radiation time and higher incidence rate of soft tissue irritation symptoms than those of CFT. There was no significant difference between the two techniques with regard to union time, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), infection rate and various other complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present meta-analysis showed that MIPO did not have obvious advantages over CFT in the treatment of distal tibia fracture. However, more rigorous randomized controlled trials are required in the future.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Ang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Haoshuai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jiaxiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hengxing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: The Department of Orthopedics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Heping District, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: sqfeng@tmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shi-Qing
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064386:Ankle Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D061646:Operative Time; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Distal tibial fractures; Meta-analysis; Minimally invasive percutaneous plates