[Treatment of high-energy tibia plateau injury with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of less invasive surgical treatment for high-energy tibia plateau injury with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation.


METHODS
From January, 2003 to May,2006, 16 cases of high-energy tibia plateau fracture were treated with half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation including 10 cases of type V and 6 cases of type VI according to Schatzker's classification. The average age of the patients was 42.4 years (range 25 to 50 years).


RESULTS
All patients were followed for an average of 16 months (range 5 to 27 months). All the fractures healed after an average time of 3.5 months. Two patients developed infections of the pin holes. According to the criteria of Rasmussen, excellent results were achieved in 10, good results in 4 cases, moderate in 2, and poor in none.


CONCLUSIONS
Half-ring external fixation combined with minimum internal fixation can be ideal for treatment of complex tibia plateau fracture.
Xie
Zhao
Z
Department of Orthopedics, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. xiezhao54981@yahoo.com.cn
Wu
Xue-hui
XH
Wang
Xu-quan
XQ
Ma
Shu-zhi
SZ
Xu
Jian-zhong
JZ
Li
Qi-hong
QH
D000328:Adult; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome