W C Prall1, M Rieger2, J Fürmetz3, F Haasters4, H O Mayr5, W Böcker3, T Kusmenkov3. 1. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Division of Knee Hip and Shoulder Surgery, Schoen Clinic Munich Harlaching, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547 Munich, Germany; Academic Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of General, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany. Electronic address: christian.prall@med.uni-muenchen.de. 2. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Division of Knee Hip and Shoulder Surgery, Schoen Clinic Munich Harlaching, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547 Munich, Germany; Academic Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. 3. Department of General, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany. 4. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Division of Knee Hip and Shoulder Surgery, Schoen Clinic Munich Harlaching, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547 Munich, Germany; Academic Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of General, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, Munich University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany. 5. FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Division of Knee Hip and Shoulder Surgery, Schoen Clinic Munich Harlaching, Harlachinger Str. 51, 81547 Munich, Germany; Academic Teaching Hospital of the Paracelsus Medical University (PMU), Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, Freiburg University Hospital, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The design of anatomically precontoured locking compression plates (LCP) allows the placement of angular stable screws right underneath the reduced joint surface fragments. To date, there is a lack of evidence supporting the broad utilization of these implants in split depression fractures to the lateral tibial plateau. Thus, aim of the present matched pair retrospective cohort study was to investigate the radiological and clinical outcomes of anatomically precontoured LCP compared to conventional plate and screw osteosynthesis in Schatzker II fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The institutional databank was searched for Schatzker II fractures from 2010 to 2016. Patients that underwent open reduction and internal fixation with anatomically precontoured 3.5 mm LCP or conventional 4.5 mm l-shaped plates and screws were included. CT scans and radiographs were analyzed. Details of the operative procedures and secondary events were collected. A matched pair analyses was conducted in a best fit manner. The primary outcome parameter was the Rasmussen Radiological Score approximately one year postoperatively. Secondary outcome parameters were the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), the Rasmussen Clinical Score and the WOMAC Score after a follow up of at least three years. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients was included. Patient age, gender distribution, size and depression depth of the lateral joint surface fragments, frequency of utilizing bone grafts or substitutes and lateral meniscus repair as well as subsequent implant removal were comparable across the groups. Immediately postoperatively, the Rasmussen Radiological Score revealed no differences. After a mean of 64.2 weeks, the radiological outcome was significantly better in the LCP 3.5 group (RRS 8.2 vs. 6.3 points, p<0.001; MPTA 89.5 vs. 92.0°, p = 0.001). After a mean clinical follow-up of 4.5 years, the Rasmussen Clinical Score (22.9 vs. 27.8 points, p<0.001) and the WOMAC score (24.3 vs. 16.0 points, p = 0.04) revealed significantly impaired results in the conventional group. CONCLUSION: Anatomically precontoured LCP prevent the subsidence of the reduced joint surface fragments more sufficiently and allow for improved patient outcomes compared to conventional plates and screws. The utilization of anatomically precontoured LCP should therefore closely be considered for internal fixation of any split depression fractures to the lateral tibial plateau.
INTRODUCTION: The design of anatomically precontoured locking compression plates (LCP) allows the placement of angular stable screws right underneath the reduced joint surface fragments. To date, there is a lack of evidence supporting the broad utilization of these implants in split depression fractures to the lateral tibial plateau. Thus, aim of the present matched pair retrospective cohort study was to investigate the radiological and clinical outcomes of anatomically precontoured LCP compared to conventional plate and screw osteosynthesis in Schatzker II fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The institutional databank was searched for Schatzker II fractures from 2010 to 2016. Patients that underwent open reduction and internal fixation with anatomically precontoured 3.5 mm LCP or conventional 4.5 mm l-shaped plates and screws were included. CT scans and radiographs were analyzed. Details of the operative procedures and secondary events were collected. A matched pair analyses was conducted in a best fit manner. The primary outcome parameter was the Rasmussen Radiological Score approximately one year postoperatively. Secondary outcome parameters were the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), the Rasmussen Clinical Score and the WOMAC Score after a follow up of at least three years. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients was included. Patient age, gender distribution, size and depression depth of the lateral joint surface fragments, frequency of utilizing bone grafts or substitutes and lateral meniscus repair as well as subsequent implant removal were comparable across the groups. Immediately postoperatively, the Rasmussen Radiological Score revealed no differences. After a mean of 64.2 weeks, the radiological outcome was significantly better in the LCP 3.5 group (RRS 8.2 vs. 6.3 points, p<0.001; MPTA 89.5 vs. 92.0°, p = 0.001). After a mean clinical follow-up of 4.5 years, the Rasmussen Clinical Score (22.9 vs. 27.8 points, p<0.001) and the WOMAC score (24.3 vs. 16.0 points, p = 0.04) revealed significantly impaired results in the conventional group. CONCLUSION: Anatomically precontoured LCP prevent the subsidence of the reduced joint surface fragments more sufficiently and allow for improved patient outcomes compared to conventional plates and screws. The utilization of anatomically precontoured LCP should therefore closely be considered for internal fixation of any split depression fractures to the lateral tibial plateau.
Authors: Wolf C Prall; Thomas Kusmenkov; Maximilian Rieger; Florian Haasters; Hermann O Mayr; Wolfgang Böcker; Julian Fürmetz Journal: Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil Date: 2021-10-13