title: Recovery of knee function following fracture of the tibial plateau.
abstract: We assessed the functional outcome following fracture of the tibial plateau in 63 consecutive patients. Fifty-one patients were treated by internal fixation, five by combined internal and external fixation and seven non-operatively. Measurements of joint movement and muscle function were made using a muscle dynamometer at three, six and 12 months following injury. Thirteen patients (21%) had a residual flexion contracture at one year. Only nine (14%) patients achieved normal quadriceps muscle strength at 12 months, while 19 (30%) achieved normal hamstring muscle strength. Recovery was significantly slower in patients older than 40 years of age. We conclude that there is significant impairment of movement and muscle function after fracture of the tibial plateau and that the majority of patients have not fully recovered one year after injury.
authors.affiliation: Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Old Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 4SU, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaston
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Will
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Keating
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices