Comparison of hook thin plate compression technique with conventional screw-plate fixation for tibial tubercle avulsion fractures in adolescents / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the outcomes between hook thin plate compression technique and conventional screw-plate fixation in the treatment of adolescent tibial tubercle avulsion fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed of the 43 adolescent patients with tibial tubercle avulsion fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2018 to October 2020. There were 42 males and one female, aged from 13 to 17 years. According to their treatment methods, they were divided into an observation group (9 cases) treated with hook thin plate compression technique and a control group (34 cases) treated with fixation with cannulated screws alone or in addition with a 1/3 tube plate. The maximum range of knee flexion, B?stman score, and cases returning to school at one month after operation, as well as fracture union time, B?stman score and cases with complications at the last follow-up were compared between the 2 groups.Results:There were no significant differences in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). By the postoperative one month, the maximum range of knee flexion [90.0° (85.0°, 102.5°)], B?stman score [21.0 (18.5, 21.0)] and cases returning to school (7) in the observation group were significantly better than those in the control group [22.5° (15.0°, 30.0°), 11.0 (10.0, 13.0), and 0] ( P<0.001). The last follow-up revealed no significant differences between the 2 groups in frature union time [(2.7±0.5) months versus (2.8±0.5) months], B?stman score [30.0 (30.0, 30.0) versus 30.0 (30.0, 30.0), 30.0)] or cases with complications (1 versus 2) ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of adolescent tibial tubercle avulsion fractures, compared with conventional fixation with cannulated screws alone or in addition with a 1/3 tube plate, hook thin plate compression technique may lead to better outcomes, because it allows early rehabilitation to shorten the postoperative immobilization time and promote early functional recovery.