Comparison of Minimally Invasive Plate Osteosynthesis and Interlocking Intramedullary Nails in the Therapy of Tibial Fractures/

Abstract：Objective:To investigate and compare with the clinical benefits and safety of utilizing minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and interlocking intramedullary nails fixation for the therapy of tibial fractures.Methods:30 patents with tibial fractures enrolled in orthopaedics of the first hospital of Wujiang from Aug 2011 to Aug 2012 were randomized into two groups,each group had 15 cases,and treated with minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and interlocking intramedullary nails fixation,respectively.Intraoperative blood loss,time of operation,time of bone callus forms,time of fracture healing,and severe adverse reactions were recorded.Results:After treatment of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and interlocking intramedullary nails fixation,all of the incision got the best cure,and no severe adverse reactions were observed during and post the surgical.For treatment of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis,the surgical time was (95±14)min,new bone callus appeared time was (7.8±1.6)weeks,and fracture healing time was (6.7±2.5)months.For treatment of intramedullary nail fixation,the surgical time was (75±15)min,new bone callus appeared time was (8.2±1.4) weeks,and fracture healing time was (7.3±1.7) months.Conclusion:Both the therapy methods of minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis and interlocking intramedullary nails fixation have equivalent but significant clinical benefits for tibial fractures when compared to the traditional open surgery.Overall the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis method takes more advantage in clinical efficiency and safety for the treatment of tibial fractures than interlocking intramedullary nails fixation.