title: Arthroscopically assisted treatment for Schatzker type I-V tibial plateau fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the clinical outcome of arthroscopically assisted treatment for tibial plateau fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 39 patients with tibial plateau fractures were treated by arthroscopic fixation from February 2002 to December 2005, including 11 patients with bony avulsion of the anterior cruciate ligament and 19 with meniscal injury. There were 4 cases of type I fracture, 12 type II, 9 type III, 12 type IV and 2 type V according to Schatzker criteria. Firstly, the combined injuries were treated. Then the plateau fractures with the displacement over 3 mm or more were reduced and fixed. Finally, the internal fixation was observed by X-ray equipment. Postoperative management was early motion and delayed weight bearing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the fractures healed in 3 or 4 months. All patients were followed up for 1 to 5 years after operation. No case had severe complications, such as poor wound healing, infection, osteofascial compartment syndrome and osteoarthritis. According to the Rasmussen scoring system, 36 cases obtained excellent or good results and the other 3 cases had moderate clinical results. The average score was 26+/-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an adjuvant treatment of intraarticular fractures such as tibial plateau fracture, arthroscopy has many advantages. It can treat associated intraarticular soft tissue components, visualize the chondral surface reduction, lavage the hematoma and smaller loose fragments, decrease soft tissue dissection, reduce the risk of scarring and promote rapid recovery.
authors.affiliation: Center for Joint Surgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. jointsurgery@mail.tmmu.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiao-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Guang-xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome