Clinical profile of patients with tibial plateau fractures

Abstract

It is estimated that approximately 1/3rd of the tibial plateau fractures have an associated ligamentous injury. These ligamentous injuries may be the cause of postoperative residual knee instability resulting in poor functional outcome. The ligamentous injuries can be diagnosed using stress radiographs, clinical examination, and arthroscopy and MRI studies. The most frequently injured structures are the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, menisci and the anterior cruciate ligament. All cases of type VI Schatzker tibial condyle fractures on presentation to the emergency department were treated by initial resuscitation and temporary stabilization of fracture by lower tibial skeletal traction and later treated by definitive surgery. All the open fractures were grade IIIa according to Gustilo and Anderson’s classification. 75% (15) of the patients were operated within 2 weeks of injury. The average delay for definitive surgery was approximately 12 days. There was a minimum delay of 5 days and maximum delay of 30 days.