Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Plate Osteosynthesis: A Blessing for Notorious Distal Tibia Fractures

Introduction: Fractures of distal tibia are difficult to treat as they are high energy fractures, associated with extremely damaged soft tissues, poor vascularity, high incidence of compound injuries, skin complications following surgery and comminution of the metaphysis and articular surface makes anatomical reduction difficult. A mechanically stable osteosynthesis can be obtained with minimum dissection and surgical trauma by Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPPO). In this technique fracture is reduced indirectly, and is fixed with Locking Compression Plate (LCP). Aim: To assess functional and radiological outcomes of distal tibial fractures managed by MIPPO using LCP. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 25 patients with distal tibia fractures were operated by LCP using MIPPO technique. Patients were followed-up at regular intervals for about one year. They were assessed clinically, functionally and with radiologically for fracture union. Functional assessment was done using American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS) scoring system. Radiological outcome was evaluated using the Radiological Union Scale in Tibia Fracture (RUST) to assess union. Data was analysed using paired t-test. The chosen level of significance was p-value