Treatment of tibial pilon fractures using the Link May Anatomic Bone Plate

The tibial pilon fracture is a relatively uncommon but a most difficult fracture to manage. Most orthopedic surgeons agree that the goal of treating such kind of fracture should be anatomic restoration of the articular surface, rigid and stable fixation, early restoration of joint motion, and finally, good functional recovery. We report our experience in managing the fracture and evaluate the operative results for patients who were treated with the Link May Anatomic Bone Plate.

A retrospective study was performed for tibial pilon fracture from January 1997 to February 2000. A total of thirty patients underwent surgical treatment using Link Distal Fibular Anatomic May Bone Plate, including twenty males and ten females with an average age of 42.6 years (range, 18 to 88 years). According to Rüedi-Allgöwer classification, the fracture patterns were type I in 30% (n = 9), type II in 53.3% (n = 16), and type III in 16.7% (n = 5). Twenty-two fractures (73.3%) were closed type; three (10%) were classified (Gustilo) as grade I open fracture; and five (16.7%) as grade II open fracture. Associated injuries included multiple fractures in five cases and head injury in four cases. All patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically after a mean time of 27.1 months (range, 17 to 39 months).

Satisfactory results were obtained in 83.3% of cases. Complications were found in four patients (13.3%), with one nonunion, two superficial wound infections and one deep wound infection.

We concluded that this plating system is one choice of treatment for tibial pilon fracture which provides relatively good outcome.