[Treatment of high-energy tibia plateau injury with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of less invasive surgical treatment for high-energy tibia plateau injury with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation.

Methods: From January, 2003 to May,2006, 16 cases of high-energy tibia plateau fracture were treated with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation including 10 cases of type V and 6 cases of type VI according to Schatzker's classification. The average age of the patients was 42.4 years (range 25 to 50 years).

Results: All patients were followed for an average of 16 months (range 5 to 27 months). All the fractures healed after an average time of 3.5 months. Two patients developed infections of the pin holes. According to the criteria of Rasmussen, excellent results were achieved in 10, good results in 4 cases, moderate in 2, and poor in none.

Conclusion: Half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation can be ideal for treatment of complex tibia plateau fracture.