title: Timing of internal fixation and effect on Schatzker IV-VI tibial plateau fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of internal fixation performed at different times on therapeutic outcomes of Schatzker IV-VI tibial plateau fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 42 cases of Schatzker IV-VI tibial plateau fractures treated in our department were analyzed retrospectively. Among these 42 patients, 21 received surgical treatment within 12 h after injury (Group I), the other 21 were first treated by traction or plaster fixation followed by a delayed internal fixation after soft tissue swelling subsided (Group II). The surgical time, complications, length of hospital stay, cost of hospitalization, and time for fracture union, as well as functional recovery were analyzed and compared between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 10-28 months follow-up (mean 16.5 months), except 5 cases who lost to follow-up, no differences were found between the two groups regarding surgical time, preoperative and postoperative complications, healing time or the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score at the end of follow-up, but significant differences were found in the length of hospital stay, cost of hospitalization and HSS score at 3 months after operation (P less than 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Under certain conditions, early internal fixation for Schatzker IV-VI tibial plateau fracture is feasible, which can shorten the length of hospital stay, decrease the cost of hospitalization and promote early functional rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 6l0041, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chong-Qi
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Tian-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Guang-Lin
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fu-Xing
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Pei
mesh_terms: D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery