OBJECTIVETo study the result of less invasive fixation in treating comminuted fracture of distal tibia.

METHODSFrom 2002 to 2008, 48 patients with comminuted fracture of distal tibia were treated with surgery. The closed reduction and less invasive fixation were done to stable broken fibula, and the reduction by Kirschner wire to pick was used for relatively larger debris of tibia. The Kirschner wire or screw were used to fix fracture after the restore of the ankle cavity position and the alignment of the tibia. Partial weight loading and functional exercise of ankle joint were done at 6th week after operation.

RESULTSForty-eight patients were followed up for 1-24 months with an average of 12 months. All the fractures were united. According to Johner-Wruhs standard to value the result by factors of pain, deformity, motion range of joint,with or without injury of nerve and blood vessel. Thirty-eight cases obtained excellent result, 8 good, fair 2. The rate of excellent and good were 95.8%.

CONCLUSIONLess invasive fixation has ascendancy such as easy operation, less injury of soft tissue, reliable fixation, which can maximally protect periosteum. It is a choice for treating comminuted fracture of distal tibia.