title: The outcome following fixation of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.
abstract: Unstable bicondylar tibial plateau fractures are rare and there is little guidance in the literature as to the best form of treatment. We examined the short- to medium-term outcome of this injury in a consecutive series of patients presenting to two trauma centres. Between December 2005 and May 2010, a total of 55 fractures in 54 patients were treated by fixation, 34 with peri-articular locking plates and 21 with limited access direct internal fixation in combination with circular external fixation using a Taylor Spatial Frame (TSF). At a minimum of one year post-operatively, patient-reported outcome measures including the WOMAC index and SF-36 scores showed functional deficits, although there was no significant difference between the two forms of treatment. Despite low outcome scores, patients were generally satisfied with the outcome. We achieved good clinical and radiological outcomes, with low rates of complication. In total, only three patients (5%) had collapse of the joint of > 4 mm, and metaphysis to diaphysis angulation of 75º, and five patients (9%) with displacement of > 4 mm. All patients in our study went on to achieve full union. This study highlights the serious nature of this injury and generally poor patient-reported outcome measures following surgery, despite treatment by experienced surgeons using modern surgical techniques. Our findings suggest that treatment of complex bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with either a locking plate or a TSF gives similar clinical and radiological outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahearn
authors.affiliation: Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oppy
authors.affiliation: North Bristol NHS Trust, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Rd, Bristol, BS16 1LE, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rowett-Harris
authors.affiliation: North Bristol NHS Trust, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Rd, Bristol, BS16 1LE, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: North Bristol NHS Trust, Frenchay Hospital, Frenchay Park Rd, Bristol, BS16 1LE, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Chesser
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Livingstone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Tibial plateau; Fracture; Periarticular locking plate; Taylor spatial frame; Functional outcome