To evaluate the clinical results of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis using a periarticular plate (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN, USA) for distal tibia fractures.

27 patients with distal tibia fractures were treated operatively by minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis. The patients were followed for at least 1 year. The duration for bone union, complications after the surgery, the amount of skin irritation at the site of plate insertion was evaluated using the VAS score and the Olerud and Molander ankle score. The average age of the patients was 56 years old (range, 30~81 years) with an average follow up period of 21 months (range, 12~30 months).

The average time from trauma to surgery was 6 days (range, 2~19 days). 10 cases showed an associated distal fibular fracture. The average time for bone fusion was 14 weeks (range, 8~40 weeks) with 1 case of angular deformity with more than 5 degrees. The amount of skin irritation due to the periarticular plate resulted in a VAS score of 2.2 points. Evaluation of the ankle function test showed an average of 90.2 points, resulting in satisfactory.

The periarticular plate used in minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for distal tibia fractures was concluded to give a firm fixation of the fracture site as bony fusion could be acquired without any callus formation, and few skin irritation due to plate has seem to be an advantage.