OBJECTIVETo evaluate the choice of operative method,timing of surgery and the outcome of tibia Pilon fractures.

METHODSFrom March 1999 to November 2008, 52 patients of Pilon fractures were treated including 38 males and 14 females with the average age of 38 years old ranging from 23 to 59 years. There were 17 cases of open fractures and 35 cases of closed fractures. According to Ruedi-Allgower type,there were 6 cases of type I fracture, 29 cases of type II, 17 cases of type III. Thirty-three cases selected emergency surgery and 19 cases selected the selective operation, the average period between injury and surgery was 8.3 days. According to the type of fracture, open reduction and plate fixation of Trilobal, limited internal fixation combined with external fixation were applied for treatment of different surgical methods.

RESULTSAll patients were followed-up for from 10 to 55 months (averaged 28 months). According to Mazur's criterion, the result of treatment was evaluated as excellent in 28 cases,good in 14 and fair in 10. After operation, 5 cases occurrenced skin and soft tissue infection and necrosis, 1 case of nonunion healed again after bone graft in re-operation, 6 patients occurrenced ankle traumatic arthritis later.

CONCLUSIONAccording to fracture type, degree of injury and timely and effective surgical treatment is the key to achieve a satisfactory effect, which can effectively avoid the occurrence of complications.