Extended anterolateral approach for thetreatment of tibial plateau fractures with posterolateral bone fragment / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the differences and clinical effects of extended anterolateral approach in the treatment of simple/complex tibial plateau fractures with posterolateral bone fragment.Methods From January 2013 to December 2015,forty-six patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures treated in our hospital were included in our research.The posterolateral plateau fractures were reduced and fixed by the extended anterolateral approach.According to Schatzker fracture classification,patients with type Ⅱ fractures were treated as simple group and patients with type Ⅴ and type Ⅵ fractures were treated as complex group.According to tibial plateau three column classification,patients were divided into single column group,double column group and three column group.The operative time,bleeding volume,fracture healing time,postoperative Rasmussen score,knee mobility,reduction and fixation of fractures and postoperative complications were compared among the groups.Results All 46 patients were followed up for 23-45 months,with an average of 31.9 months.There were 24 cases in simple fracture group and 22 cases in complex fracture group.The mean operation time of simple group was 124±33.8 min,and that of complex group was 175±65.5 min,with significant difference (t=2.302,P=0.025);the mean bleeding volume of simple group was 118±93.5 ml,and that of complex group was 190± 149.4 ml,with significant difference (t=1.905,P=0.028).12 cases were treated with arthroscopy.Bone union was achieved in all patients at the last follow-up,and daily activities were not limited.The average healing time was 4.58 months in simple group and 5.54 months in complex group.The excellent rate of fracture reduction was 83.3％ in simple group and 27.3％ in complex group (x2=14.679,P=0.000).Posterolateral bone fragment was not completely fixed in 4 cases (16.7％) in simple group and 8 cases (36.4％) in complex group.The average Rasmussen function score was 26.8±2.1 and the range of motion of knee joint was 100°-120° (average 115.5°±6.2°) in simple group;The average Rasmussen function score was 23.5±3.4 points and the range of motion of knee joint was 95°-115° (average 106.3°±7.4°) in complex group,neither with no significant differences.According to the three-column fracture classification system,there were 6 cases in the single-column group,24 cases in the double-column group and 16 cases in the three-column group.There were significant differences in the operative time (F=5.039,P=0.000),bleeding volume (F=5.215,P=0.000) and the excellent rate of fracture reduction (x2=7.003,P=0.030) between these three groups.But there was no significant difference in the time of fracture healing,un-fixation rate of posterolateral bone fragment,knee joint Rasmussen score and knee jointactivity.The excellent rate of fracture reduction was 83.3％ in arthroscopy assisted cases and 47.1％ in arthroscopy un-assisted cases respectively (x2=4.749,P=0.002).Postoperative wound infection occurred in 1 patient.Conclusion Extended anterolateral approach could provide good reduction and fixation of tibial plateau fractures with posterolateral bone fragment with satisfactory clinical outcomes obtained in both simple and complex fractures.The operation was relatively simple and posterolateral bone fracture could get better reduction and fixation in simple tibial plateau fractures,and arthroscopy treatment was helpful to improve fracture reduction.