[Comparison study on effectiveness between arthroscopy assisted percutaneous internal fixation and open reduction and internal fixation for Schatzker types II and III tibial plateau fractures].

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 complication between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The operation time, incision length, fracture healing time, and complications were compared between 2 groups. Knee function score and the range of motion were measured according to American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score standard.

RESULTS

All patients achieved primary incision healing. The arthroscopy group had smaller incision length and longer operation time than the control group, showing significant differences (P < 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 < 0.05). The X-ray films showed bony union in 2 groups. The fracture healing 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 complications between 2 groups (chi2 = 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 healing time.