ObjectiveTo explore the early effectiveness and advantages of mini-Swashbuckler approach in treatment of distal femoral type C fractures by comparing with Swashbuckler approach.MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on 43 patients with distal femoral type C fractures between January 2014 and June 2018. Twenty-two patients were treated with open reduction via mini-Swashbuckler approach and internal fixation with less invasive stabilization system (LISS) plate in modified group; and 21 patients were treated with open reduction via Swashbuckler approach and internal fixation with LISS plate in traditional group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, cause of trauma, fracture classification, fracture side, interval between injury and operation, and complications between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, hospitalization time, fracture healing time, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores of the knee, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups.ResultsThe operation successfully completed in both groups. The operation time of the modified group was significantly longer than that of the traditional group, the fluoroscopy times was increased and the blood loss was reduced, the differences were significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in hospitalization time between the two groups (t=0.277, P=0.783). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-8 months, with an average of 7.2 months. Fractures healed in both groups, there was no significant difference in healing time between the two groups (t=0.861, P=0.394). The HSS scores of the modified group were 82.91±2.88 and 89.28±3.63 at 3 and 6 months after operation, respectively, which were superior to those of the traditional group (74.62±3.64) and (81.48±4.55) (t=8.306, P=0.000; t=6.231, P=0.000). There was 1 case of incision infection, 1 case of deep vein thrombosis, and 2 cases of knee flexion and extension dysfunction in traditional group, and 1 case of deep vein thrombosis, 1 case of varus deformity, and 1 case of internal fixation loosening in modified group. There was no significant difference in the incidences of complications between the two groups (P>0.05).ConclusionCompared with Swashbuckler approach, mini-Swashbuckler approach has limited visual field exposure, which leads to prolonged operation time and increased fluoroscopy times, but the risks of complications do not increase. Because of its small soft tissue injury and less blood loss, it is conducive to the recovery of knee joint function after operation.