OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effects of minimally invasive anatomic plate fixation for the treatment of the distal tibial fractures.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to March 2009,87 patients with distal tibial fractures were retrospectively analyzed and divided into four groups. Thirty-five patients in group A were treated by closed reduction internal fixation, including 25 males and 10 females,with a mean age of (34.12 +/- 7.10) years. Eleven patients in Group B were treated by closed reduction and locking compression plating fixation,including 8 males and 3 females with a mean age of (29.03 +/- 4.12) years. Twenty-six patients in Group C were treated by open reduction and internal fixation, including 15 males and 11 females, with a mean age of (31.07 +/- 6.31) years. Fifteen patients in Group D were treated by open reduction and locking compression plating fixation, including 9 males and 6 females with a mean age of (30.27 +/- 6.52) years. The index such as operating time, blood loss, hospital stay,hospital expense,fracture healing time, the last follow-up AOFAS score and complications were compared.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 16 to 48 months with a mean time of (24.6 +/- 2.2) months. There were no significant differences in operating time, the last follow-up AOFAS score among four groups (P > 0.05); but blood loss, hospital stay and fracture healing time in group A and B were less than group C and D (P < 0.05); The hospital expenses in group A and C were less than group B and D (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive percutaneous anatomic plate fixation is beneficial for distal tibial fracture, which has minimally invasive, less hospital stay, less hospital expense especially combined with anatomic plate.