To investigate the effective surgical method for the periarticular tibial fracture.

A retrospective review was done on 27 cases with the periarticular tibial fracture who were treated by minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis(MIPO) between March, 1995 and December, 1998. The mean follow up period was 20.3 months(range: 14-42 months). Raiological bony union and clinical complications were analysed. Nineteen cases(70%) were proximal and remained 8 were distal. Five were open fractures and 15(56%) were communited.

Postoperatively if clinical(12.3 weeks) and radiolographic(14.7 weeks) signs of healing were present, and their concurrent injuries allowed, full weight bearing was initiated. In functional evaluation, proximal tibia fractures were excellent and good in 17 cases, fair in 2 cases and distal tibia fractures were good in 6 cases, fair in 1 case, poor in I case. Complications were occurred in 5 cases(19%)as superficial infection, rotational malunion, nonunion and knee joint stiffness.

It seems that the MIPO on patients with periarticular tibial fracture allows early motion of adjacent joint, shorten the interval of radiographic and clinical union and decrease the complications and it has excellent cosmetic effect. As a conclusion, we recommend that the MIPO should be considered as an appropriate operative treatment regimen in treating peritalar tibial fracture. But we have to pay attention to prebending a plate before application.