To compare the efficacy of the surgical treatment through the comparison of Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis (MIPO) and Intramedullary (IM) nailing in the treatment of the tibial shaft fractures expended to metaphysis retrospectively.

Patients with proximal or distal third fracture of tibial shaft from May 2003 to Aug. 2006 were divided into two groups depending on the surgical method. Group A consisted of 30 patients treated with IM nailing, Group B was 29 patients treated with MIPO. The clinical outcomes were evaluated retrospectively from the time for bone union and callus formation confirmed by X-ray, functional score of knee or ankle joint, and complications including nonunion, malalignment and infection.

Bone union was seen radiologically at a mean of 17.4 weeks in group A, and 17.0 weeks in group B. In postoperative complications, group A showed two nonunion, two delayed-union, six malalignment, and two wound infection while group B showed only one delayed-union and one wound infection.

There were no significant differences in the time for bony union and functional score between IM nailing and MIPO. Conventional IM nailing with only interlocking technique showed higher incidence of malalignment and deformity than MIPO for the treatment of the proximal or distal third fracture of the tibial shaft.