Abstract
The aim was to report operative complications, radiographic and patient-reported outcomes following lateral tibial plateau fracture fixation augmented with calcium phosphate cement (CPC).
From 2007–2018, 187 patients (median age 57yrs [range 22–88], 63% female [n=118/187]) with a Schatzker II/III fracture were retrospectively identified. There were 103 (55%) ORIF and 84 (45%) percutaneous fixation procedures. Complications and radiographic outcomes were determined from outpatient records and radiographs. Long-term follow-up was via telephone interview.
At a median of 6 months (range 0.1–138) postoperatively, complications included superficial peroneal nerve injury (0.5%, n=1/187), infection (6.4%, n=12/187), prominent metalwork (10.2%, n=19/187) and post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA; 5.3%, n=10/187). The median postoperative medial proximal tibial angle was 89o (range 82–107) and posterior proximal tibial angle 82o (range 45–95). Three patients (1.6%) underwent debridement for infection and 27 (14.4%) required metalwork removal. Seven patients (4.2%) underwent total knee replacement for PTOA.
Sixty percent of available patients (n=97/163) completed telephone follow-up at a median of 6yrs (range 1–13). The median Oxford Knee Score was 42 (range 3–48), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score 88 (range 10–100), EuroQol 5-Dimension score 0.812 (range −0.349–1.000) and Visual Analogue Scale 75 (range 10–100). There were no significant differences between ORIF and percutaneous fixation in patient-reported outcome (all p>0.05).
Fixation augmented with CPC is safe and effective for lateral tibial plateau fractures, with a low complication rate and good long-term knee function and health-related quality of life. Percutaneous fixation offers a viable alternative to ORIF with no detriment to patient-reported outcome.
