Staged treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures with temporary transarticular external fixation and delayed plate fixation

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of staged treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures with temporary transarticular external fixation and delayed plate fixation. Methods Enrolled in this study were 44 cases of complex tibial plateau fracture who had been treated from January 2011 to January 2014. Temporary transarticular external fixation and delayed plate fixation was adopted in 22 patients (observation group) , involving 14 men and 8 women with an average age of 45.5±11.4 years, and 10 left sides and 12 right sides. By the Schatzker classification, 13 cases were type Ⅴ and 9 type Ⅵ. Calcaneal traction and plate fixation was adopted in the other 22 patients (control group) , involving 13 men and 9 women with an average age of 43.8±10.4 years, and 8 left sides and 14 right sides. By the Schatzker classification, 12 cases were type Ⅴ and 10 type Ⅵ. The 2 groups were evaluated by the time from hospitalization to plate fixation, operation time, intra-operative bleeding volume, hospitalization time, healing time, complications and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scoring at the final follow-ups. The 2 groups were compatible with no significant differences regarding the preoperative general data (P>0.05). Results The 44 patients were followed up for 12 to 30 months (mean, 18.6 months). There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the time from hospitalization to plate fixation, operation time, intra-operative bleeding volume and hospitalization time (P 0.05). Conclusions Although both methods can treat complex tibial plateau fractures, temporary transarticular external fixation and delayed plate fixation may be preferable because it can lead to decreased hospitalization time, less intra-operative bleeding volume, fewer surgical complications and good functional recovery of the knee. Key words: External fixation; Tibial fracture; Fracture fixation, internal; Knee joint