Triplane fractures of the distal tibia requiring open reduction and internal fixation. Pre-operative planning using computed tomography.
Computed tomography (CT) of triplane fractures provides useful information not available on conventional radiographs. Knowledge of the size and position of displaced fragments, the location of the intra-articular fracture and any associated articular incongruency is useful when undertaking pre-operative planning.A postal survey of surgeons revealed only 38% always requested CT scans before undertaking open reduction and internal fixation of displaced triplane fractures. Examples of the usefulness of CT scans in pre-operative planning is presented in two cases.
Jones
S
S
Department of Orthopaedics, Sheffield Children's Hospital, Weston Bank, Sheffield S10 2TH, UK.
Phillips
N
N
Ali
F
F
Fernandes
J A
JA
Flowers
M J
MJ
Smith
T W D
TW
D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011364:Professional Practice; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*