title: Arthroscopic management of proximal tibial fractures: technical note and case series presentation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to describe a new surgical method of arthroscopy assisted treatment of intraarticular proximal tibial fractures (ARIF - arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation), analyzing its efficiency and safety on a series of patients. Tibial plateau fractures affect the proximal tibial metaphyseal and articular surface, representing 1.2% of all fractures and up to 8% of all fractures in elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our case series consists of 6 patients with Schatzker types I-III tibial plateau fractures, treated in the Orthopedic and Traumatology Clinic of Cluj-Napoca from July 2012 to August 2014. Patients included in the study presented Schatzker type I-III tibial plateau fracture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results obtained with the arthroscopic method were excellent in 5 cases (mean Rasmussen score 27.60 points) and good in 1 case (mean score 23.75). The radiological consolidation appeared after a mean of 12 weeks. No major complication was noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnosis and treatment of associated lesions, shortening of hospitalization length and postoperative rehabilitation, but also the lower rate of complications, can make arthroscopic reduction and internal fixation the method of choice for the operative treatment of selected Schatzker I-III types of proximal tibial fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Horea
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benea
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomoaia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ciprian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bardas
keywords: arthroscopy; surgery; tibial fractures; treatment