Treatment of distal fractures of the tibia

Abstract

Objective: to compare the results of fibula fixation (or non fixation) in the treatment of fractures located in the distal third of the tibia, by using intramedullary nailing and bridge plate. Method: 47 fractures on 47 patients were studied. Twenty-one patients were treated with non-reamed, interlocking intramedullary nailing, and 26 patients were treated with wide or narrow dynamic compression plates (using a minimally invasive technique). All of the fibular fractures were located at the same level or below tibial fractures. Results: in the group of patients treated with fibula fixation, the average healing time was 14.6 weeks. In the group of patients treated without fibula fixation, the average healing time was 14.3 weeks. In the group of patients treated with fibula fixation a significantly smaller proportion of valgus angular deviation (6.3%) was observed compared to the group of patients treated without fibula fixation (32.3%). Conclusions: The benefits of fibula fixation remain controversial when tibial fractures are associated. Regarding fracture healing, there was no significant difference between the studied fracture groups.