OBJECTIVETo compare the outcome of two minimally invasive internal fixed methods for the treatment of distal tibio-fibula fractures.

METHODSThe clinical data of 50 patients with distal tibio-fibula fractures from March 2006 to March 2009 was analyzed retrospectively. Twenty-eight patients were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular (Group P + E). There were 18 male and 10 female patients with a mean age of (45 ± 6) years. Twenty-two patients were treated with interlocking intramedullary nail fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular (Group N + E). There were 12 male and 10 female patients with a mean age of (43 ± 9) years. The index of peri-operation, pain score at 3 d postoperative, bone union time, the clinical outcomes and complications postoperative were statistically compared.

RESULTSThere were no statistical significance on operation time, blood loss perioperative and pain score at 3 d postoperative. Bone union time in Group N + E was significantly longer than in Group P + E [(21.1 ± 3.0) weeks vs. (15.4 ± 2.9) weeks]. Meanwhile, the function of ankle score (44.3 ± 1.7 vs. 41.8 ± 2.5) and the line of foot score (8.6 ± 2.3 vs. 6.8 ± 3.6) in Group P + E were respectively significantly higher than that in Group N + E. However, there were no statistical difference on ankle pain, buckling add stretch restricted, turn inward add evaginate restricted and the rate of good and fair between the two groups. There were 3 cases of complications postoperation in Group P + E, significantly less than the 8 cases of Group N + E.

CONCLUSIONSMinimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular shows superiority in treatment of distal tibio-fibula fractures. However, interlocking intramedullary nail fixing tibia combining elastic stable intramedullary nailing fixing fibular has the advantages in worse soft tissue and multi-step tibio-fibula fractures.