Arthroscopically assisted percutaneous osteosynthesis of lateral tibial plateau fractures.
BACKGROUND
The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of lateral tibial plateau fractures treated with arthroscopically assisted percutaneous osteosynthesis (AAPO).


METHODS
Twenty-one patients (14 men and 7 women) with a mean age of 41 years underwent AAPO to repair low-energy Schatzker I-III tibial plateau fractures. Under pneumatic tourniquet, we reduced and fixed the fracture with 1 or 2 subchondral cannulated screws. Accompanying lesions included 10 meniscus tears, which we partially excised in 9 patients and repaired in 1 patient. On the second postoperative day, patients began range-of-motion exercises. We encouraged partial and full weight-bearing by the sixth and tenth weeks, respectively. The mean follow-up period was 38 (range 12-96) months, and we evaluated the patients using Rasmussen's clinical and radiologic criteria. We used a t test for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
There were 13 excellent (62%), 6 good (28%) and 2 fair (10%) clinical results, and 11 excellent (52%), 7 good (33%) and 3 fair (14%) radiologic results. We observed mild or moderate arthritic changes in 5 patients (24%). There were no infection or wound problems, but we removed hardware in 4 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthroscopically assisted treatment of lateral tibial plateau fractures yields satisfactory results and can be accepted as an alternative and effective method for the treatment of low-energy tibial plateau fractures.
Kayali
Cemil
C
2nd Clinic of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. cemilkayali@yahoo.com
Oztürk
Hasan
H
Altay
Taskin
T
Reisoglu
Ali
A
Agus
Haluk
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome