To report the result and the advantage of Ilizarov device when treating the tibial plafond fractures described as difficult to manage.

We retrospectively reviewed 10 cases of tibial plafond fractures treated with Ilizarov device form March 1996 to October 1999. If necessary, limited internal fixation was combined and the mean follow-up time was 11 months. The clinical and the radiological results were evaluated after operation.

The objective clinical results were classified as good (4 cases), fair (5 cases), and poor (1 case). The average union time was 13 weeks and there were ankle pain, wound infection and traumatic arthritis after opertion, but severe complications such as osteomyelitis and nonunion were not appeared.

For tibial plafond fractures, Ilizarov device minimize the soft tissue injury and combined limited internal fixation improve the result.