STUDY OF OUTCOME OF DISTAL TIBIAL FRACTURES TREATED WITH LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATES: BY BOTH OPEN REDUCTION AND MIPO TECHNIQUE

BACKGROUND Tibia being the most common fractured long bone of the body; 1. Distal metaphyseal fractures comprise 5-7% of these injures; 2. With or without involving the articular surface. Encouraging results for open reduction and internal fixation (Plate osteosynthesis) and closed manual reduction with osteosynthesis with minimal invasive percutaneous locking plates has been noted for lower third tibial fractures. Locking compression plate provides the advantage of anatomic reduction, stable fixation, preservation of blood supply, preventing joint stiffness, less soft tissue injury. METHODS AND MATERIAL This study included (40) patients with distal tibia fractures between 18-65 years presenting in the Department of Orthopaedics in Osmania Medical College and Osmania General Hospital. This is prospective study. These patients are treated with locking compression plates. RESULTS Patients were evaluated using AOFAS7 score for hindfoot scale (100 points). Excellent - 26 (65%), Good - 12 (30%), Fair - 2 (5%) comparable to other studies. CONCLUSION Reduction and internal fixation of distal tibial fractures using locking compression plate medially by open and MIPO technique is one of the acceptable forms of treatment for lower third tibia including the articular surface with or without communication.