This study was designed to investigate the feasibility and advantages of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis of periarticular tibial fractures.

Twenty-one patients with periarticular tibial fractures were treated, including 7 proximal and 14 distal fractures. According to the AO classification, 11 cases were A type. After fracture reduction with the traction or distractor, the pre-contoured narrow LC-DCP was inserted at the distant site to the fracture-site, and the screws were percutaneously fixed.

Time to union averaged 15.0 weeks (range 10-24 weeks). There were 2 cases of delayed union (above 6 months), and 2 cases of malunion, one with >5 degrees of varus alignment and one with >10 degrees of external rotation. Two patients with failure had second operations, one to correct angulation and for bone graft due to comminution, and the other for early plate removal due to repeated superficial infection.

The authors feel confident that this minimally invasive technique for plate osteosynthesis of tibial fractures will prove to be a feasible and worthwhile method of stabilization, which avoids the severe complications associated with conventional open plating.