Objective To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopy assisted percutaneous internal fixation and open reduction and internal fixation for Schatzker types II and III tibial plateau fractures. Methods Between August 2006 and April 2010, 58 patients with tibial plateau fractures of Schatzker types II and III were treated with arthroscopy assisted percutaneous internal fixation (arthroscopy group, n=38), and with open reduction and internal fixation (control group, n=20). There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration, fracture type, and compl ication between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, incision length, fracture heal ing time, and compl ications were compared between 2 groups. Knee function score and the range of motion were measured according to American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scorestandard. Results All patients achieved primary incision heal ing. The arthroscopy group had smaller incision length andlonger operation time than the control group, showing significant differences (P lt; 0.05). The patients of 2 groups were followed up 12 to 14 months. At 6 months, the HSS score and the range of motion of the arthroscopy group were significantly greater than those of the control group (P lt; 0.05). The X-ray films showed bony union in 2 groups. The fracture heal ing time of the arthroscopy group was shorter than that of the control group, but no significant difference was found (t=2.14, P=0.41). Morning stiffness occurred in 2 cases (5.3%) of the arthroscopy group, joint pain in 6 cases (30.0%) of the control group (3 cases had joint stiffness) at 1 week, which were cured after symptomatic treatment. There was significant difference in the incidence of compl ications between 2 groups (χ2=6.743, P=0.016). Conclusion The arthroscopy assisted percutaneous internal fixation is better than open reduction and internal fixation in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures of Schatzker types II and III, because it has smaller incision length and shorter fracture heal ing time.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of a novel lateral tibial plateau annular plate (hereinafter referred to as the novel plate) fixation via fibular neck osteotomy approach for posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. Methods Between January 2015 and December 2018, 22 patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures were treated. There were 10 males and 12 females with an average age of 39.0 years (range, 25-56 years). Seven fractures were caused by falls, 10 by traffic accidents, and 5 by falling from height. The time from injury to hospitalization ranged from 3 to 12 days, with an average of 7.0 days. All patients were closed fractures. According to Schatzker classification, the fractures were classified as type Ⅱ in 8 cases, type Ⅲ in 9 cases, type Ⅴ in 1 case, and type Ⅵ in 4 cases. The fractures were fixed with the novel plates after reduction via fibular neck osteotomy approach. The fracture reduction and healing were observed by X-ray film after operation. The range of motion of the knee joint was recorded and the function was evaluated by modified American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score. Results All operations were completed successfully. The operation time was 60-95 minutes (mean, 77.6 minutes). The intraoperative blood loss was 100-520 mL (mean, 214.5 mL). There was 1 case of common peroneal nerve injury during operation and 2 cases of fat liquefaction of incision after operation. All patients were followed up 13-32 months (mean, 19.4 months). Postoperative X-ray films showed that the fracture reduction was good in 17 cases and moderate in 5 cases, and all fractures healed with a healing time of 10-18 weeks (mean, 13.0 weeks). At last follow-up, the range of motion of the knee joint ranged from 100° to 145° in flexion (mean, 125.5°) and from 0° to 4° in extension (mean, 1.2°). The modified HSS score was 82-95 (mean, 86.3). There was no complications such as plate deformation, screw fracture, fracture reduction loss, skin necrosis, and so on. Conclusion For posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, the novel plate fixation via fibular neck osteotomy approach has the advantages of clear intraoperative field, firm fracture fixation, and less postoperative complications, which is beneficial to the recovery of knee joint function.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of slope-reducing tibial osteotomy and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision in the treatment of patients with primary ACL reconstruction failure and abnormally increased posterior tibial slope (PTS). Methods The clinical data of 9 patients with primary ACL reconstruction failure and abnormally increased PTS (≥17°) who met the selection criteria between January 2018 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 1 female; the age ranged from 21 to 42 years, with a median age of 30 years. Lachman test was positive in 9 patients. Pivot-shift test was negative in 6 cases, degree Ⅰ positive in 2 cases, and degree Ⅱ positive in 1 case. The PTS was (17.78±1.09)° and the anterior tibial translation (ATT) was (11.58±1.47) mm. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was 51.0±3.8, Lysholm score was 49.7±4.6, and Tegner score was 3.7±0.7. The time from primary reconstruction to revision was 12-33 months, with an average of 19.6 months. Slope-reducing tibial osteotomy and ACL revision were performed. The improvement of knee function was evaluated by IKDC score, Lysholm score, and Tegner score; Lachman test and Pivot-shift test were used to evaluate the stability of knee joint. PTS and ATT were measured to observe the morphological changes of knee joint. Results All the incisions healed by first intention, and there was no complication such as incision infection, fat liquefaction, necrosis, deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities, and neurovascular injury. All 9 patients were followed up 12-36 months, with an average of 25.8 months. At last follow-up, Lachman test and pivot-shift test were negative. IKDC score was 85.0±4.0, Lysholm score was 87.7±2.8, Tegner score was 6.8±0.7, PTS reduced to (9.89±0.60)°, and ATT shortened to (0.91±0.29) mm, which were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05). ConclusionSlope-reducing tibial osteotomy and ACL revision in the treatment of patients with primary ACL reconstruction failure and abnormally increased PTS has a satisfactory short-term effectiveness. It can improve the stability of knee joint and maintain the normal shape of knee joint.
Objective To observe the cl inical results of treatment of Schatzker V/VI tibial plateau fracture involved posteromedial condyle through combined posteromedial and anterolateral approach and fixed with two or three plates. Methods From April 2005 to April 2008, 18 cases of tibial plateau fracture involved posteromedial condyle were treated, including 14 males and 4 females with an average age of 38.5 years old (range, 18-62 years old). According to Schatzker classification, there were 12 cases of type V and 6 cases of type VI. The posteromedial condyle were involved in 13 cases and bilateral posterior condyle in 5 cases. All patients were given posteromedial fragment and medial condyle fracture reduction through posteromedial approach firstly, and then lateral condyle fracture reduction through anterolateral approach, and injury of meniscuses and cruciate l igaments were treated at the same time. Three plates (lateral, medial, posterior) were used in 10 cases and two plates (lateral, posteromedial) in 8 cases. Results All wounds achieved heal ing by first intention without compl ications such as infection, flap necrosis, osteofascial compartment syndrome, chronic osteomyel itis, nonunion. All patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months with an average of 24.4 months. The mean flexion of the knee was 118.4° (range, 100-130°) 1 year after operation. According to Iowa evaluation system, 12 patients got excellent results, 4 good, and 2 fair; the excellent and good rate was 88.9%. Conclusion Combined posteromedial and anterolateral approach and fixed with two or three plates is effective in treatment of the Schatzker V/VI tibial plateau fracture involved posteromedial condyle. Anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation of the posteromedial fragment are critical to successful operation.
Objective To review the biomechanical research progress of internal fixation of tibial plateau fracture in recent years and provide a reference for the selection of internal fixation in clinic. Methods The literature related to the biomechanical research of internal fixation of tibial plateau fracture at home and abroad was extensively reviewed, and the biomechanical characteristics of the internal fixation mode and position as well as the biomechanical characteristics of different internal fixators, such as screws, plates, and intramedullary nails were summarized and analyzed. Results Tibial plateau fracture is one of the common types of knee fractures. The conventional surgical treatment for tibial plateau fracture is open or closed reduction and internal fixation, which requires anatomical reduction and strong fixation. Anatomical reduction can restore the normal shape of the knee joint; strong fixation provides good biomechanical stability, so that the patient can have early functional exercise, restore knee mobility as early as possible, and avoid knee stiffness. Different internal fixators have their own biomechanical strengths and characteristics. The screw fixation has the advantage of being minimally invasive, but the fixation strength is limited, and it is mostly applied to Schatzker typeⅠfracture. For Schatzker Ⅰ-Ⅳ fracture, unilateral plate fixation can be used; for Schatzker Ⅴand Ⅵ fracture, bilateral plates fixation can be used to provide stronger fixation strength and avoid the stress concentration. The intramedullary nails fixation has the advantages of less trauma and less influence on the blood flow of the fracture end, but the fixation strength of the medial and lateral plateau is limited; so it is more suitable for tibial plateau fracture that involves only the metaphysis. Choosing the most appropriate internal fixation according to the patient’s condition is still a major difficulty in the surgical treatment of tibial plateau fractures. Conclusion Each internal fixator has good fixation effect on tibial plateau fracture within the applicable range, and it is an important research direction to improve and innovate the existing internal fixator from various aspects, such as manufacturing process, material, and morphology.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors of contralateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after primary ACL reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on the 716 patients with ACL injury who received primary ACL reconstruction surgery and met the selection criteria between January 2012 and September 2018. After a mean follow-up period of 7.6 years (range, 4-10 years), 65 patients (9.1%) experienced contralateral ACL injury (injured group) and 651 patients (90.9%) did not (uninjured group). There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, and preoperative Lachman test degree between groups (P>0.05). However, the proportion of female in the injured group was significantly higher than that of male (P<0.05), and the preoperative posterior tibial slope (PTS) was significantly higher than that of the uninjured group (P<0.05). Using the outcome of contralateral ACL injury as the dependent variable, the clinical data of the patient was first used as the independent variable, and univariate COX regression was used to analyze the prognostic influencing factors. Then, the indicators with differences in univariate COX regression were used as the independent variable, and multivariate COX regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting prognosis. Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test was used to test and analyze the occurrence time of contralateral ACL injury in patients of different genders; X-tile software was used to analyze the occurrence time of contralateral ACL injury in patients with different PTS using Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test and PTS cut-off values. ResultsUnivariate COX regression analysis showed that gender and PTS were influence factors for contralateral ACL injury (P<0.05); further multivariate COX regression analysis showed that female and increased PTS were independent risk factors for contralateral ACL injury (P<0.05). The Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test results showed that the contralateral ACL injury occurred in female at 8.853 (8.600, 9.106) years, which was significantly shorter than that in male [9.661 (9.503, 9.819) years] (χ2=20.323, P<0.001). Using X-tile software to analyze the cut-off value of PTS, it was found that the cut-off value of PTS for contralateral ACL injury was 10.92°. According to the Log-Rank (Mantel-Cox) test, it was found that the contralateral ACL injury occurred in 5.762 (4.981, 6.543) years in patients with PTS≥10.92°, which was significantly shorter than patients with PTS<10.92° [9.751 (9.650, 9.853) years](χ2=302.479, P<0.001). ConclusionFemale and PTS≥10.92° after primary ACL reconstruction are independent risk factors for contralateral ACL injury.
Objective To summarize the effectiveness of bone cement combined with screws for repairing tibial plateau defect in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Between March 2013 and March 2016, 30 patients were treated with TKA and bone cement combined with screws for repairing tibial plateau defect. Of the 30 patients, 8 were male and 22 were female, with an average age of 64.7 years (range, 55-71 years). And 17 cases were involved in left knees and 13 cases in right knees; 22 cases were osteoarthritis and 8 cases were rheumatoid arthritis. The disease duration ranged from 9 to 27 months (mean, 14 months). Knee Society Score (KSS) was 41.63±6.76. Hospital for Special Surgery Knee Score (HSS) was 38.10±7.00. The varus deformity of knee were involved in 19 cases and valgus deformity in 11 cases. According to the Rand classification criteria, tibial plateau defect were rated as type Ⅱb. Results All incisions healed by first intention, without infection or deep vein thrombosis. All the patients were followed up 27.5 months on average (range, 10-42 months). At last follow-up, HSS score was 90.70±4.18 and KSS score was 93.20±3.75, showing significant differences when compared with preoperative values (t=–58.014, P=0.000; t=–60.629, P=0.000). Conclusion It is a simple and safe method to repair tibial plateau defect complicated with varus and valgus deformities with bone cement and srews in TKA.