Comparison of intramedullary nail fixation and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis in distal tibial fractures in geriatric patients

Introduction: Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and intramedullary nail are two accepted and effective methods in the treatment of tibial fractures. In this study, it was aimed to retrospectively evaluate the surgical treatment and complications of distal tibial fractures not related to the ankle joint with MIPO and intramedullary nails in the geriatric group. Materials and Methods: Patients in the geriatric age group who were operated with a fracture of the distal part of the tibia that did not extend to ankle joint were evaluated retrospectivelly. Inclusion criteria for the study were geriatric patients with closed distal tibia fractures that did not extened to ankle joint and who were treated surgically and evaluated with Johner Wrush criteria in their follow-up files. Results: This study enrolled 42 patients. The mean age of the patients was 70 ± 3.4 years. 22 of these patients underwent osteosynthesis with intramedullary nailing. Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) was performed in the treatment of 20 patients. According to Johner Wrush criteria, 16 patients were evaluated to be very good, 5 patients were good and 1 patient was bad in intramedullary nail group. 15 patients were evaluated as excellent, 3 patients as good, 1 patient as moderate, and 1 patient as poor in MIPO group. Conclussion: There was no significant difference in clinical outcomes and complications of surgical treatment of closed tibial distal fractures that do not extend to the ankle joint in geriatric age groups. Both surgical treatment methods can be applied effectively in geriatric patients.