High degree of patient satisfaction after percutaneous treatment of lateral tibia plateau fractures.

INTRODUCTION

The outcomes and complications following surgical treatment of tibial plateau fractures have been widely reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QoL), functional and radiological outcomes after lateral tibial plateau fractures, Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO) type 41-B2 and B3, treated with minimally invasive bone tamp reduction, allograft and percutaneous screw fixation.

METHODS

This study was a cross-sectional study and a retrospective review and clinical evaluation of patients treated with minimally invasive bone tamp reduction, allograft and percutaneous screw fixation after lateral tibial plateau fractures between 2005 and 2010. The patients completed a clinical examination, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and a questionnaire for evaluation of QoL (Eq5D-5L).

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients agreed to participate (71%). The mean follow-up time was 2.5 years. Maintained anatomical joint reduction and alignment was achieved in 23 cases. The mean Eq5D-5L index was 0.850. The mean KOOS scores were: pain = 79.9, ADL = 80.8, symptoms = 73.0, QoL = 61.3 and sport = 54.4. Compared with Eq5D-5L reference norms, patients did not report significantly lower scores. Compared with a KOOS reference group, patients reported significantly lower KOOS scores in three subscales.

CONCLUSIONS

Tibial plateau fractures AO type 41-B2 and 41-B3 treated with minimally invasive bone tamp reduction, allograft and percutaneous screw fixation showed a high rate of anatomical reduction (82%), a low rate of complications (3.5%) and a high level of satisfactory patient-reported QoL.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.