Arthroscopic Reduction and Pull-out Suture Fixation for the Intercondylar Eminence Fracture of the Tibia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Meyers-McKeever and Zaricznyj proposed a classification for intercondylar eminence fractures of the tibia. Type III and IV classifications are generally accepted as surgical indications for the fractures. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of arthroscopic reduction and multiple pull-out suture fixation for displaced intercondylar eminence fractures of the tibia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two cases were examined, with a average age of 14(5~23) years, and the average follow-up was 34 months(24 months~6 years). Patients were evaluated according to the Meyers and McKeever criteria, and were scored at 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months, each year and at the last follow-up. Patients underwent the following evaluations: radiological, range of motion, Lachman test, pivotshift test and the KT 2000 arthrometer. RESULTS: The average union time was postoperative week 9.3(6~12 weeks). According to the Meyers and McKeever criteria, the cases showed the following outcomes at the final follow-up: 19(86.4%) excellent, 2(9.1%) good and 1(4.5%) poor. CONCLUSION: Using the short- and mid-term arthroscopic reduction and multiple pull-out suture fixation procedure for displaced intercondylar eminence fractures of the tibia resulted in 95.5%(19) of cases showing good or excellent outcomes, indicating this procedure is effective.