SURGICAL TREATMENT OF COMPLEX META-DIAPHYSEAL TIBIAL FRACTURES – CURRENT STATE OF THE ART AND NEW TREATMENT MODALITIES

Abstract

Fractures of a meta-diaphyseal region of the tibia are still challenging in terms of safe, fast, minimal invasive, low - risk surgical treatment. The unstable meta diaphyseal tibial fractures affect proximal and distal one-third of the tibia and result from high-energy trauma, usually combined with severe soft tissue injury. Treatment strategies include mostly operative approaches with various contemporary surgical instrumentations and modern techniques for definitive fracture repair, achieving primary or secondary bone union and better quality of life for patients. In the last decade, new techniques for definitive external plate fixation have been introduced as a part of contemporary trauma armamentarium with good and excellent outcomes.