Percutaneous plating of the low energy unstable tibial plateau fractures: a new technique.

We discuss the management of two low-energy unstable tibial plateau fractures in this report, and describe our new technique of percutaneous plating to stabilise these fractures. This minimally invasive surgery has the obvious advantages to the traditional open reduction and internal fixation and the non-operative management by plaster immobilisation. Stable fixation can be achieved by small fragment plates used in this technique allowing safe mobilisation. This novel method of internal fixation could be a useful inclusion in the armamentarium for the management of tibial plateau fractures and can be safely practised by an orthopaedic surgeon at a District General Hospital.