title: Arthroscopy-assisted surgery for tibial plateau fractures: 2- to 10-year follow-up results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the outcome of arthroscopy-assisted reduction with internal fixation for treating tibial plateau fractures at 2- to 10-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four patients with tibial plateau fractures treated by arthroscopy-assisted reduction with internal fixation were enrolled in this prospective study. According to the Schatzker classification, the fractures types were as follows: type I, 1 (2%); type II, 21 (39%); type III, 4 (7%); type IV, 10 (19%); type V, 8 (15%); and type VI, 10 (19%). The mean age at operation was 48 years (range, 22 to 68 years). The mean follow-up period was 87 months (range, 28 to 128 months). Clinical and radiologic outcomes were scored by the Rasmussen system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean postoperative Rasmussen clinical score was 28.4 (range, 19 to 30), and the mean radiologic score was 16.1 (range, 12 to 18). Good or excellent clinical and radiologic results were achieved in 96% of patients. The 6 fracture types did not significantly differ with regard to Rasmussen score or rate of satisfactory results (P > .05). Secondary osteoarthritis was noted in 10 injured knees (19%). All 54 fractures were successfully united. The mean preoperative fracture depression was 13.7 mm (range, 6 to 25 mm). Fracture depression at the final follow-up averaged 0.3 mm (range, 0 to 4 mm). No complications directly associated with arthroscopy were noted in any of the 54 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic surgery for tibial plateau fractures with associated soft-tissue injuries is a safe, reproducible, and effective procedure that provides precise diagnosis and effective treatment in a 1-stage procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level IV, therapeutic case series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Republic of China. chan512@adm.cgmh.org.tw <chan512@adm.cgmh.org.tw>
authors.forename: Yi-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Chih-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yang-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Alvin Chao-Yu
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kuo-Yao
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Ching-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Jer
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome