title: Multi-plate reconstruction for severe bicondylar tibial plateau fractures of young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and complications following multi-plate reconstruction for treating severe bicondylar tibial plateau fractures of young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2007 and February 2012, 26 patients with severe bicondylar tibial plateau fractures met inclusion criteria; they were treated using multi-plate technique through combined approaches. Patients received an average follow-up of 40.8 (range, 18-64) months, which included anteroposterior and lateral imaging, postoperative complications, range of motion and stability of the knee. The Rasmussen score was applied for functional and radiological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three to five plates were used for reconstruction. No intra-operative complications occurred. Postoperative complications included bulge of hardware in four patients and superficial dehiscence in three cases in the anterolateral incision of which one developed to deep infection. There was no neurovascular damage, and no implant breakage or loosening. Hardware was removed partly or totally in 16 cases. The average Rasmussen score at final follow-up was 27.2 (range, 21-30) points for functional evaluation and 16.4 (range, 14-18) for radiology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multi-plate reconstruction is a valid and safe method for treating severe bicondylar tibial plateau fractures of young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, No.600 Yishan Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qilin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.forename: Chengfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Congfeng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*