title: Comparative study of single lateral locked plating versus double plating in type C bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bicondylar tibial plateau fractures are complex injuries and treatment is challenging. Ideal method is still controversial with risk of unsatisfactory results if not treated properly. Many different techniques of internal and external fixation are used. This study compares the clinical results in single locked plating versus dual plating (DP) using two incision approaches. Our hypothesis was that DP leads to less collapse and change in alignment at final followup compared with single plating.
  
  
  METHODS
  61 cases of Type C tibial plateau fractures operated between January 2007 and June 2011 were included in this prospective study. All cases were operated either by single lateral locked plate by anterolateral approach or double plating through double incision. All cases were followed for a minimum of 24 months radiologically and clinically. The statistical analysis was performed using software SPSS 10.0 to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty nine patients in a single lateral locked plate and 32 patients in a double plating group were followed for minimum 2 years. All fractures healed, however there was a significant incidence of malalignment in the single lateral plating group. Though there was a significant increase in soft tissue issues with the double plating group; however, there was only 3.12% incidence of deep infection. There was no significant difference in Hospital for special surgery score at 2 years followup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double plating through two incisions resulted in a better limb alignment and joint reduction with an acceptable soft tissue complication rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India ; Department of Orthopaedics, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India.
authors.forename: Devdatta Suhas
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Neogi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trikha
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Kaushal Kant
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa, India.
authors.forename: Shivanand M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bandekar
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chandra Shekhar
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yadav
keywords: Tibial fracture; Tibial plateau fracture; bicondylar fracture; bone plates; knee; locking plate