[Clinical research on suture anchor fixation for the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial intercondylar eminence under arthroscopy].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the early clinical effects of suture anchor fixation for the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial intercondylar eminence under arthroscopy.

METHODS

From July 2012 to January 2015, 22 patients with the avulsion fracture of tibial intercondylar eminence were treated with arthroscopic suture anchor fixation. There were 12 males and 10 females, with an average age of 22.8 years old(ranged, 18 to 33 years old). Nine patients had the fractures in the right knee and 13 patients had the fractures in the left knee. The mean duration from injury to surgery was 6.8 days(ranged, 3 to 11 days). According to the improved Meyers-McKeever classification, 13 cases were type II, 7 cases were type III, and 2 cases were type IV. The clinical outcomes were evaluated by the range of motion, the Lysholm score, the IKDC 2000 subjective knee score, the axial shift test, and the anterior drawer test.

RESULTS

All the incisions healed by first intention, and no complications occurred. All the patients were followed up, and the mean duration was 32.8 months (ranged, 18 to 42 months). The knee range of motion was improved from preoperative (49.37±7.69) ° to (126.38±5.58) °at the latest follow-up(P<0.01). Lysholm score was improved from preoperative 43.4±5.6 to 79.2±6.2 at the latest follow-up(P<0.01). And the IKDC 2000 score was improved from preoperative 52.6±6.2 to 81.4±5.7 at the latest follow-up(P<0.01). At the latest follow-up, the patient underwent physical examination. One patient had a positive result of axial shift test at the 18th month after operation with grade II laxity of anterior cruciate ligament. One patient had a weakly positive result of anterior drawer test at the 24th month after operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Absorbable suture anchor fixation for the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial intercondylar eminence under arthroscopy can provide accurate reduction and stable fixation, which can be applied to treat all types of fractures including comminuted fracture, and it is not necessary to remove the implant in the second operation.