title: Outcomes following the treatment of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with fine wire circular frame external fixation compared to open reduction and internal fixation: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether circular frame external fixation provides better outcome and fewer complications when compared to open reduction internal fixation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search was carried out and studies were critically appraised with narrative data synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The systematic search yielded 131 titles and following a rigorous review only five articles were found to directly compare the two treatment methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fine wire frame external fixation offers a modest advantage of better soft tissue outcomes. All in all, there is no current high-level evidence to suggest that newer osteosynthesis plates provide better results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, B9 5SS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tarek
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boutefnouchet
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, B9 5SS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ayaz S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lakdawala
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, B9 5SS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Panayiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Makrides
keywords: Bicondylar/Schatzker 6; External fixation; Open reduction and internal fixation; Tibial plateau fractures