Reduction and Stabilization of Depressed Articular Tibial Plateau Fractures: Comparison of Inflatable and Conventional Bone Tamps: Study of a Cadaver Model.

Abstract

Restoration of articular congruity and mechanical integrity of subchondral bone are important surgical goals of the treatment of intra-articular fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the reduction quality and biomechanical integrity between cadaveric intra-articular tibial plateau fractures reduced with an inflatable bone tamp and contralateral fractures reduced with a series of cylindrical conventional metal bone tamps. A standardized lateral tibial plateau split-depression fracture was created in each leg of fourteen pairs of cadaver legs. In each pair, the fracture on one side was reduced under fluoroscopy with use of an inflatable bone tamp and the fracture on the contralateral, control side was reduced with conventional bone tamps and a mallet. Any residual bone defects were filled with calcium phosphate bone-void filler. The constructs were stabilized with a lateral tibial plateau buttress plate. Each articular reduction was qualitatively graded by blinded observers using fluoroscopic images, three-dimensional computed tomography (CT) scans, and visual inspection of the articular surface. Quantitative volumetric analysis was performed to calculate under-reduction, over-reduction, and total malreduction volumes. Each reduced fracture was cyclically loaded and then statically loaded to failure under axial compression, and the strength and stiffness of the constructs were compared between sides. The majority (eleven) of the fourteen fractures reduced with the inflatable bone tamp were rated as having a better reduction than the contralateral fracture reduced with the conventional bone tamps. The median over-reduction and malreduction in the inflatable-tamp group (7% and 21.6%, respectively) were significantly less than those in the conventional-tamp group (19.2% and 47.1%), although the median under-reduction (6.2% in the inflatable-tamp group and 9.6% in the conventional-tamp group) did not differ significantly between groups. The fractures reduced with the inflatable tamp displaced less during cyclic loading than those reduced with the conventional tamp. Median static stiffness and yield load were also significantly higher in the inflatable-tamp group (880 N/mm and 704 N) than in the conventional-tamp group (717 N/mm and 641 N). As compared with contralateral control fractures treated with conventional bone tamps, fractures treated with an inflatable bone tamp had qualitatively and quantitatively better reduction, typically resulting in a smoother articular surface with less residual defect volume. Fractures reduced with an inflatable bone tamp exhibited less subsidence during cyclic loading and greater stiffness under static loading compared with those treated with conventional bone tamps. Using an inflatable bone tamp in association with calcium phosphate bone-void filler to reduce and maintain reduction of an articular fracture may help in achieving the surgical goal of a more anatomic reduction with better resistance to subsidence.