PURPOSE To assess the result of staged minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) for distal tibial fracture with an open wound or injured soft tissue. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 20 patients (mean age, 47.8 year-old) with distal tibial fractures, there were 4 type A fractures and 16 type C fractures based on the AO classification system. Eight of the 20 patients had open fractures. MIPO was performed on average 23.9 days after bridging external fixation. At the final follow-up, we assessed the radiological results of bone union and alignment. Functional results were also evaluated by measuring the degrees of ankle motion and the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores. RESULTS Seventeen of 20 cases (85%) achieved primary union at an average of 21.3 weeks. There were 3 cases of nonunion requiring a bone graft. The mean AOFAS score was 88.5 (range, 67~92) and the average range of ankle motion was 49.2degrees (plantarflexion: 37.4degrees, dorsiflexion: 11.8degrees). Complication included 2 cases of minor mal-alignment, 1 case of claw toe and 1 case of peroneal neuropathy. Patients over the age of 60 had lower functional results. Additional factors did not affect the final results. CONCLUSION Staged MIPO may achieve satisfactory results in distal tibial fractures with soft tissue compromise, decreasing deep infections and soft tissue complications.
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Anterolateral Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis of Distal Tibial Fractures Using an Anterolateral Locking Plate Dongwhan Suh, Hwan Hee Lee, Young Hoon Han, Jae Jung Jeong Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society.2020; 24(1): 19. CrossRef
Minimally Invasive Osteosynthesis with Locking Compression Plate for Distal Tibia Fractures Sung-Kyu Kim, Keun-Bae Lee, Keun-Young Lim, Eun-Sun Moon Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2011; 24(1): 33. CrossRef
PURPOSE To know biomechanical differences in methods of limb lengthening between using monolateral external fixator and using external fixator over an intramedullary nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS In acryl rods, saw-bone, and cadeveric bone, we created two lengthening models of using monolateral external fixator and using external fixator over an intramedullary nail. The axial compression test was done on the site of osteotomy for lengthening. To fix the models, half pins of 5 mm in diameter and nails of 9 mm in diameter were used. Using MTS (Material Test System) machine, we evaluated the differences of axial stiffness according to the presence of an intramedullary nail or the numbers of half-pins which were fixed at each side of osteotomy. RESULTS Lengthening over an intramedullary nail, comparing to monolateral external fixator only, increased the axial stiffness by 1.1~1.2 times in acryl rods, 1.2~1.6 times in saw bones, and 15.6~15.9 times in cadeveric bones when the same numbers of half-pins were used. In saw bone and cadaveric bone, the group of two half pins in lengthening over an intramedullary nail was stiffer than the group of three pins in lengthening with monolateral external fixator. CONCLUSION In the distraction of the limb, the addition of an intramedullary nail may increase the axial stiffness of the frame of monolateral external fixator. In lengthening over an intramedullary nail, it is enough to distract the bone with fixing two half pins at each sides of osteotomy.