Spiral computed tomography with two- and three-dimensional reconstruction in the management of tibial plateau fractures.

Spiral computed tomography (CT) with three-dimensional and multiplanar reconstructions was used in the evaluation of tibial fractures in nine patients. Computed tomography added important information to that obtained by plain radiographs. Five (55%) fractures were reclassified. The degree of articular depression was often underappreciated on plain radiographs. Furthermore, the fracture complexity and the spatial relation of fragments could be readily demonstrated with 3-D reconstruction. This technique is useful in planning operative reconstruction.