Objective:To compare the efficacy of plate versus intramedullary nailing for distal tibial fracture by Meta-analysis. Methods:Databases of Pub Med

Embase

Ovid

Medline

Science Direct

the Cochrane Library（Issue 11

2015）

Wanfang Data and CNKI were searched. The keywords were tibial fractures

fracture fixation

intramedullary nailing and plate. Full text was screened and downloaded. Retrieval time was from database built to November 2015 in all databases. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria

literature meeting the requirements was screened. The post-operative complication rate

infection rate

deformity healing rate and delay or bone un-union rate were taken as the main observation indexes. The Review Manager 5.3 software was used for Meta-analysis.Results:A total of 16 studies were included

including 1 919 distal tibial fractures（plate group:773 fractures;intramedullary nailing group:1 146 fractures）. Meta-analysis results showed that there was no statistical significance in total postoperative complication rate between plate group versus intramedullary nailing group（OR=0.68

95%CI=0.44 to 1.05

P=0.080）. Postoperative infection rate was higher in plate group than in intramedullary nailing group（OR=1.85

95%CI=1.21 to 2.84

P=0.005）. Postoperative deformity healing rate was lower in plate group than in intramedullary nailing group（OR=0.34

95%CI=0.21 to 0.50

P=0.000）. Postoperative bone delayed union or un-union rate was lower in plate group than in intramedullary nailing group（OR=0.50

95%CI=0.30 to 0.83

P=0.007）.Conclusion:Plate and intramedullary nail are common implant materials in the treatment of distal tibial fractures

each have advantages and disadvantages. With the limited information available at present

no evidence confirmed what kind of treatment is more scientific. Intramedullary nailing treatment is recommended when fracture combining with serious soft tissue injury. Plate treatment can reduce the incidence of post-operative delayed union or un-union when fracture combing with poor rotational stability.