OBJECTIVETo explore clinical results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for posterior Pilon fracture through posterolateral approach.

METHODSSeventeen patients with posterior Pilon fracture were treated through posterolateral approach from February 2010 to April 2013. Among them,including 11 males and 6 females aged from 29 to 59 with an average of 43.4 years old. All fractures were associated with more than 20% of articular surface of distal tibial. The causes of injury included falling down (11 cases), traffic accident (4 cases) and sports injury(6 cases). Fracture classification was based on posterior pilon fracture by YU Guang-rong, including type I (6 cases), type II (2 cases) and type III (6 cases). Fracture healing time, fracture reduction and postoperative complications were observed, AOFAS score were applied to evaluate clinical efficacy.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 13 to 24 months with an average of 20.5 months. All incisions were healed at stage I, and fractures obtained healing,the time of fracture healing ranged from 12 to 21 weeks with an average of 15.2 weeks. No incision infection, neurovascular injury, bone ununion and fracture deformity were found after operation. Postoperative AOFAS score was 92.0 ± 10.2, and 14 cases got excellent results, 2 good and 1 moderate.

CONCLUSIONPosterior pilon fracture through posterolateral approach could obtain effective reduction, stable fixation. It is a safe, simple and effective operation for treating posterior Pilon fracture, and it is worth popularizing.