Comparison of clinical efficacy between arthroscopy-assisted and open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of Schatzker type I-III tibial plateau fractures / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of arthroscopy-assisted and open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of Schatzker type I-III tibial plateau fractures.Methods:The data of patients with Schatzker type I-III tibial plateau fractures who were treated from August 2017 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the treatment, the patients were divided into the arthroscopic-assisted minimally invasive reduction and internal fixation group (arthroscopy group) and the conventional open reduction and internal fixation group (incision group). In the arthroscopy group, there were 30 patients, 19 males and 11 females were included; the age was 45.13±7.12 years old (range, 29-60 years). Among them, 13 cases were Schatzker type I fractures, 14 cases were Schatzker type II fractures, and 3 cases were Schatzker type III fractures. In the incision group, there were 30 patients, 17 males and 13 females were included; the age was 43.53±7.79 years old (range, 31-58 years). Among them, 11 cases were Schatzker type I fractures, 15 cases were Schatzker type II fractures, and 4 cases were Schatzker type III fractures. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ambulation time, postoperative complete weight-bearing time and postoperative complications were recorded. The degree of knee joint swelling, knee flexion and extension range of motion and the American knee society knee score (AKS score) were compared between the arthroscopy group and the incision group.Results:Both groups were followed up. The follow-up time of the arthroscopy group were 10-18 months, with an average of 14 months; the follow-up time in the incision group were 12-18 months, with an average of 15 months. In the arthroscopy group, the operation time (87.60±9.20 min vs. 94.33±10.65 min), intraoperative blood loss (57.16±9.63 ml vs. 71.93±11.15 ml), postoperative ambulation time (5.13±1.28 d vs. 6.17±1.53 d) and postoperative complete weight-bearing time (12.83±1.68 weeks vs. 14.23±1.77 weeks) were superior to the incision group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.62, 5.49, 2.83, 3.94; all P<0.05). The healing time was 13.33±1.37 weeks in the arthroscopy group and 14.86±1.63 weeks in the incision group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=3.94, P<0.001). At 1 year after surgery, the range of flexion and extension of knee joint in the arthroscopy group was 116.77°±12.46°, which was better than that in the incision group, which was 109.13°±9.89°, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.63, P=0.011). The AKS score in the arthroscopy group was 164.57±11.16 points, and the score in the incision group was 149.53±14.77 points, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.45, P<0.001). There were no malunion or compartment syndrome in the arthroscopy group and the incision group. The total incidence of complications in the arthroscopy group was 13% (4/30), including 2 cases of poor wound healing, 2 of poor knee range of motion after operation. The total incidence of complications in the incision group was 23% (7/30), including 4 cases of poor wound healing, 1 of wound infection, 2 of poor knee range of motion after operation. And the difference between the two groups in complication incidence was not statistically significant (χ 2=1.00, P=0.317). Conclusion:Arthroscopic-assisted reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of Schatzker I-III tibial plateau fractures has the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, early mobility, fewer complications, and better knee joint function, and there are no obvious arthroscopic-related complications, which is a safe and reliable treatment method.