A Clinical Study of the Tibial Plafond Fractures / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

The tibial plafond fractures result from an axial compression snd rotational forces causing variable degrees of metaphyseal disruption, articular damage, and malleolar displscement. It is relatively uncommon but a most difficult fracture to manage. It has been treated in a number of manners, but the best results have been occurred when stable internal fixation is accomplished using plates and screws. Basic steps in reconstruction are restoration of anatomic length of the fibula with plate fixation, reconstruction of the tibial articular surface, cancellous bone grafting of the metaphyseal defect and buttress plating of the distal tibia. The suthor analysed the 20 cases of the tibial plafond frsctures in 17 patients, which were trested at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Paik Hospital, Inje Medical College from Jsnuary 1983 to March 1987. The longest durstion of followup was 2 years and 4 months and shortest one was 6 months, and the aversge was one year. The results were as follows 1. Among the 17 patients, male were 16 and female was one. 2. The major causes of injury were a fall from a height. 3. The most frequent type of fracture was type C by Ruedi and Allgower classification. 4. Regardless of the method of trestment the type A and B were in good and fair result, but the type C were fair in 4 cases and poor in 8 cases. There were 7 cases of snkle fusion in poor group. 5. It is important to remind the basic steps in reconstruction and applied in sn individual csse especially in type C. If anatomic reconstruction of the joint surface can be restored and stable fixation achieved, esrly motion of the ankle joint is made possible. This early motion reduces stiffness of the ankle and win yeild the most sstisfying result. But the anatomic reduction of ank1 joint is difficult to be obtained in each case especially in type C and may consider an ankle fusion.