# Functional Outcomes of Surgical Intervention for Tibial Plateau Fractures: A Study From a Tertiary Care Facility

## TL;DR

This study examines the surgical outcomes of tibial plateau fractures, showing that surgical intervention can lead to good functional recovery and prevent osteoarthritis.

## Contribution

The study provides functional outcomes of surgical treatment for tibial plateau fractures in a specific demographic context.

## Key findings

- Most patients (79.4%) were injured due to road traffic accidents.
- Surgical treatment achieved good to excellent results in 91.1% of cases.
- No non-union cases were observed, with a mean union duration of 14 weeks.

## Abstract

Background

Among the most prevalent types of intra-articular fractures, tibial plateau fractures (TPFs) are common. These fractures can involve medial, lateral, or both plateaus and occur with varying degrees of articular depressions and displacements. The objective of this study was to examine the surgical treatment of TPFs to achieve a pain-free and flexible knee joint, avert the onset of osteoarthritis, and link radiological results with fracture type and functional outcomes.

Methodology

In this prospective, interventional study, 68 patients with TPFs were classified according to Schatzker’s classification system (SCS). The study was conducted for two years after obtaining approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee.

Results

TPFs were frequently observed in the active and productive demographic within our context. There was a disproportionate number of male patients with upper tibial fractures compared to female patients. There was a modest degree of right-sided preponderance in comparison to the left side. The majority of the patients (54/68 (79.4%)) were injured as a result of road traffic accidents (RTAs). The predominant fractures were classified as type I (22/68 (32.3%)) and type II (14/68 (20.5%)) according to SCS. Open reduction and internal fixation with a buttress plate and screws was used most frequently for TPFs. No instances of non-union were identified in the present investigation. The mean duration for union was 14 weeks, ranging from 10 to 22 weeks. Overall, 68 cases were treated with surgical procedures, and of those, 29 (42.6%) cases had great results, 33 (48.5%) cases had good results, 4 (5.8%) cases had fair results, and 2 (2.9%) cases had poor results.

Conclusions

It is beneficial to undergo surgical intervention to stabilize the knee when necessary, especially in cases of depressed and displaced fractures. Though challenging to treat surgically, TPFs can be successfully treated with stiff fixation and considerable anatomical reduction to restore articular congruity, increase early knee motion by minimizing post-traumatic osteoarthritis, and achieve optimal knee function.