A distal tibia plating system includes anterolateral (10) and medial plates (110). The anterolateral plate includes a shaft (12) with both threaded first fastener holes (24) and compression slots (26) along its length. The head includes a first row of four threaded fastener holes arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis, a non- threaded compression screw hole, and a plurality of distal tabs(38). Each tab includes a ring (38) with a single threaded fastener hole and a bridge (50) that couples the ring to the distal end of the plate. The bridge is configured to bend preferentially in a desired direction and to allow tab removal. The medial plate (110) is a low profile plate including a shaft (112) and a relatively enlarged distal head (116). Several fasteners (500) can be used with the plates. A plate holder (400) is provided to maneuver the plates subcutaneously.