Matthias Krause1, Achim Preiss2, Gunnar Müller3, Jürgen Madert3, Kai Fehske4, Mirjam V Neumann5, Christoph Domnick6, Michael Raschke6, Norbert Südkamp5, Karl-Heinz Frosch7. 1. Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; "Fracture committee" of the German Knee Society, Germany. 2. Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Knee and Shoulder Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany. 3. Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany. 4. Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Hand, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Germany; "Fracture committee" of the German Knee Society, Germany. 5. University Medical Center Freiburg, Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Freiburg i. Brsg., Germany; "Fracture committee" of the German Knee Society, Germany. 6. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Westphalian Wilhelms University Muenster, Germany; "Fracture committee" of the German Knee Society, Germany. 7. Department of Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Knee and Shoulder Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Asklepios Clinic St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; "Fracture committee" of the German Knee Society, Germany. Electronic address: khfrosch@me.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Currently existing classifications of tibial plateau fractures do not help to guide surgical strategy. Recently, a segment-based mapping of the tibial plateau has been introduced in order to address fractures with a fracture-specific surgical approach. The goal of the present study was to analyze incidence and fracture specifics according to a new 10-segment classification of the tibial plateau. METHODS: A total of 242 patients with 246 affected knees were included (124 females, 118 males, mean age 51.9±16.1years). Fractures were classified according to the OTA/AO classification. Fracture pattern was analyzed with respect to a 10-segment classification based on CT imaging of the proximal tibial plateau 3cm below the articular surface. RESULTS: 161 Patients suffered an OTA/AO type 41-B and 85 patients an OTA/AO type 41-C tibial plateau fracture. Females had an almost seven times higher risk to suffer a fracture due to low-energy trauma (OR 6.91, 95% CI (3.52, 13.54), p<0.001) than males. In 34% of the patients with affection of the medial tibial plateau, a fracture comminution, primarily due to low-energy trauma (p<0.001), was observed. In type B fractures, the postero-latero-lateral (65.2%), the antero-latero-lateral (64.6%) and the antero-latero-central (60.9%) segment were most frequently affected. Every second type C fracture showed an unique fracture line and zone of comminution. The tibial spine was typically involved (89.4%). A typical fracture pattern of high-energy trauma demonstrated a zone of comminution of the lateral plateau and a split fracture in the medial plateau. The most frequently affected segments were the postero-latero-central (85.9%), postero-central (84.7%), and antero-latero-central (78.8%) segment. CONCLUSION: Posterior segments were the most frequently affected in OTA/AO type B and C fractures. Acknowledging the restricted visibility of posterior segments, whose reduction and fixation is crucial for long-term success, our findings implicate the use of posterior approaches more often in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. Also, low-energy trauma was identified as an important cause for tibial plateau fractures.
BACKGROUND: Currently existing classifications of tibial plateau fractures do not help to guide surgical strategy. Recently, a segment-based mapping of the tibial plateau has been introduced in order to address fractures with a fracture-specific surgical approach. The goal of the present study was to analyze incidence and fracture specifics according to a new 10-segment classification of the tibial plateau. METHODS: A total of 242 patients with 246 affected knees were included (124 females, 118 males, mean age 51.9±16.1years). Fractures were classified according to the OTA/AO classification. Fracture pattern was analyzed with respect to a 10-segment classification based on CT imaging of the proximal tibial plateau 3cm below the articular surface. RESULTS: 161 Patients suffered an OTA/AO type 41-B and 85 patients an OTA/AO type 41-C tibial plateau fracture. Females had an almost seven times higher risk to suffer a fracture due to low-energy trauma (OR 6.91, 95% CI (3.52, 13.54), p<0.001) than males. In 34% of the patients with affection of the medial tibial plateau, a fracture comminution, primarily due to low-energy trauma (p<0.001), was observed. In type B fractures, the postero-latero-lateral (65.2%), the antero-latero-lateral (64.6%) and the antero-latero-central (60.9%) segment were most frequently affected. Every second type C fracture showed an unique fracture line and zone of comminution. The tibial spine was typically involved (89.4%). A typical fracture pattern of high-energy trauma demonstrated a zone of comminution of the lateral plateau and a split fracture in the medial plateau. The most frequently affected segments were the postero-latero-central (85.9%), postero-central (84.7%), and antero-latero-central (78.8%) segment. CONCLUSION: Posterior segments were the most frequently affected in OTA/AO type B and C fractures. Acknowledging the restricted visibility of posterior segments, whose reduction and fixation is crucial for long-term success, our findings implicate the use of posterior approaches more often in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures. Also, low-energy trauma was identified as an important cause for tibial plateau fractures.
Authors: A Korthaus; M Krause; G Pagenstert; M Warncke; F Brembach; Karl-Heinz Frosch; J P Kolb Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2021-12-28 Impact factor: 3.067