title: The application of a three-column internal fixation system with anatomical locking plates on comminuted fractures of the tibial plateau.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the operative procedures and clinical outcomes of a new three-column internal fixation system with anatomical locking plates on the tibial plateau to treat complex three-column fractures of the tibial plateau.
  
  
  
  From June 2011 to May 2015, 14 patients with complex three-column fractures of the tibial plateau were treated with reduction and internal fixation through an anterolateral approach combined with a posteromedial approach. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a control group which included seven cases using common locking plates, and an experimental group which included seven cases with a new three-column internal fixation system with anatomical locking plates.
  
  
  
  The mean operation time of the control group was 280.7 ± 53.7 minutes, which was 215.0 ± 49.1 minutes in the experimental group. The mean intra-operative blood loss of the control group was 692.8 ± 183.5 ml, which was 471.4 ± 138.0 ml in the experimental group. The difference was statistically significant between the two groups above. The differences were not statistically significant between the following mean numbers of the two groups: Rasmussen score immediately after operation; active extension-flexion degrees of knee joint at three and 12 months post-operatively; tibial plateau varus angle (TPA) and posterior slope angle (PA) immediately after operation, at three and at 12 months post-operatively; HSS (The Hospital for Special Surgery) knee-rating score at 12 months post-operatively. All fractures healed.
  
  
  
  A three-column internal fixation system with anatomical locking plates on tibial plateau is an effective and safe tool to treat complex three-column fractures of the tibial plateau and it is more convenient than the common plate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China. yehaidao81@sohu.com.
authors.forename: ChenShou
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: WeiZhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: JinQing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: YingYing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: ShenShen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: ShouKun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Mindong Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No. 89 Heshan Road, Fuan City, Fujian Province, China.
authors.forename: Lian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery*; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Anatomical locking plate; Internal fixation; Three-column; Tibial plateau fracture