Introduction:

Diaphyseal fractures of the tibia have high incidence per year, including those of the distal third. They are the most common of the long bones and are seen mostly in young adults. They are generally caused by high-energy trauma such as traffic accidents and falls from heights.

Objective:

To present the results of the treatment on a patient with extra-articular fracture of the distal third of the tibia, using minimally invasive percutaneous osteosynthesis technique.

Case report:

A white 45-year-old male patient was injured in a traffic accident, and he was treated in the Orthopedics and Traumatology service at Dr. Antonio Luaces Iraola General Teaching Hospital, because of a trauma to his left leg. He had pain, swelling and inability to walk. Physical examination revealed pain, deformity, crepitus, abnormal mobility, increased volume, and absolute functional impotence. X-rays were performed. The diagnosis was confirmed, and surgical treatment was decided with a minimally invasive percutaneous technique. The principles of biological osteosynthesis were followed and a second generation plate of AO system was used.

Conclusions:

The surgical time was 45 minutes. The hospital stay was 48 hours. Partial support of the leg was started at eight weeks, and full support at 15 weeks. Full fracture healing was achieved 16 weeks after surgery, the procedure was evaluated as excellent according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score.

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