Percutaneous plating in the lower extremity

Since the late 1950s, open reduction and internal fixation has been advocated to restore bone anatomy and enable early mobilization. This approach often necessitated extensive dissection and tissue devitalization, creating an environment less favorable for fracture union and more prone to bone infection. As a result, other methods, such as intramedullary nailing, have become the standard treatment for most diaphyseal fractures of the femur and tibia. However, internal fixation with plates and screws remains the treatment of choice for most periarticular fractures and other complex fractures inadequately stabilized by intramedullary nailing. Recently, more "biologic" methods of reduction involving the use of indirect techniques and new plate designs have been developed in an attempt to preserve the blood supply to the injured bone, improve the rate of fracture healing, decrease the need for bone grafting, and lower the incidence of infection and other complications. Percutaneous plating appears to be the next step in the evolution of biologic plating. With these techniques, the fracture is reduced indirectly, and plates are placed into submuscular or subcutaneous tunnels through limited skin incisions. This may result in less surgical trauma to tissues and further improvements in clinical results compared with current methods of plate insertion.