Posterior plating of tibial shaft fractures: A functional outcome analysis

Abstract

Tibial shaft fractures are the most common of long bone fractures. Tibial fractures are usually the result of trauma, both high energy and low energy. Increasing energy of injury leads on to both bone and soft tissue complications. Approximately 25 % of both bone fractures of leg are open fractures requiring external fixation or wound debridement with resultant problems in wound healing by secondary intention. A few often require secondary procedures for internal fixation which might get infected leading on to a vicious cycle implant exit, external fixation, wound debridement. Posterior tibial plating aims at avoiding the vicious cycle by providing primary internal fixation. We have reported a case series of patients who got operated for fracture tibia with posterior tibial plating, patients were followed up and functional outcome is reported in this study. Materials & Methods: Patients who had sustained lower limb fractures were examined and those patients with fracture at distal diametaphyseal region of tibia along with minor soft tissue injuries (Gustilo Anderson Type I and Type II) were chosen. Patients with fracture both bone leg with open physes were also included. We treated three patients with posterior plating of tibia. Results: Bone Union was achieved in all three patients with all of them bearing full weight at the end of four months. Conclusion: Posterior tibial plating adds another viable alternative in treating distal diametaphyseal fractures with soft tissue compromise or open physes.