Surgical treatment for complex tibial plateau fractures involving the posterior column / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate surgical techniques for tibial plateau fractures involving the posterior column and the corresponding clinical effect.Methods From March 2009 to January 2012,32 patients with tibial plateau fracture involving the posterior column underwent surgical treatment in our hospital,including 21 males and 11 females,aged from 23 to 60 years (average,40.4 years).There were 30 cases of closed fracture and 2 cases of open fracture.Two patients combined with anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture,and 3 patients with posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture.Posterolateral and anteromedial approaches were used in 6 patients with posterolateral and medial columns fracture.Posteromedial and anterolateral approaches were used in 7 patients with posteromedial,medial and lateral columns fracture; a small anteromedial incision was added in 2 of them.Posteromedial and anterolateral approaches were used in 11 patients with posteromedial and lateral columns fracture.Posteromedial and posterolateral approaches were used in 2 patients with posteromedial and posterolateral columns fracture,while a single posteromedial approach was used in another patient with same fracture.Posteromedial and anterolateral approaches were used in 3 patients with posteromedial,posterolateral and lateral columns fracture,while posterolateral and anterolateral approaches were used in other 2 patients with same fracture.Results All patients obtained satisfactory exposure and reduction.They were followed up for 5 to 24 months (average,10.7 months).The average bone union time was 15.9 weeks,and the average time from operation to full weight-bearing was 18.1 weeks.The average range of motion of knee was 113.3°.According to HSS (Hospital for Special Surgery) score,the results were excellent in 22 cases,good in 6 cases,fair in 3 cases and bad in 1 case; the total excellent and good rate was 87.5％.Conclusion For tibial plateau fractures involving posterior column,satisfactory reduction and fixation can be obtained via posteromedial and posterolateral approaches which have many advantages such as earlier functional exercise,fewer complications and excellent clinical results.