title: Complex tibial plateau fractures treated with Ilizarov external fixator with or without minimal internal fixation.
abstract: We treated 30 tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker Type VI) in 29 patients, with a mean age of 41.4 (20-76) years, with the Ilizarov fixator. In 18 fractures, we combined the treatment with minimal internal fixation. All fractures were the result of high-energy trauma, and 20 patients had associated injuries. Twenty-eight fractures were available for follow-up after 27 (16-36) months. Using The Knee Society clinical rating system, 18 knees were rated as excellent, seven as good, one as fair, and two as poor. There was a direct correlation between the presence of associated injuries and the final outcome. The most significant concomitant injuries were distal femoral fractures and extensive soft-tissue injury. This study emphasizes the clinical success and low morbidity associated with the use of external fixation and minimal internal fixation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El Barbary
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdel Ghani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Misbah
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Salem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome