Rehabilitation of the knee joint function affected by tibial plateau fracture combined with meniscus tear / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the effect of meniscus tear on prognosis of tibial plateau fracture and the effect of fracture on meniscus healing by comparing the outcomes of simple tibial plateau fractures and the fractures combined with meniscus injury. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 57 cases of tibial plateau fractures treated with internal fixation in our hospital from January 2004 to June 2006. Twenty-three of them were complicated with meniscus tear and received repairing. Knee joint functions were evaluated by the HSS (The Hospital for Special Surgery) score. The menisci were examined by Joint-line tenderness, McMurray, Apley and Thessaly tests. The femorotibial angle (FTA), tibial plateau angle (TPA) and posterior slop angle (PA) were measured on X-ray images. Results Fifty cases were followed up for an average Of 15 (6 to 24) months. The HSS scores for the simple tibial plateau fracture and the tibial plateau fracture combined with meniscus tear were 87.9 and 87.1, respectively. There were no statistical signifi-cances in HSS score(t=0.351, P=0.727), FTA, TPA and PA results between the 2 groups. No more positive physical signs of meniscus tear were found in the group of tibial plateau fracture combined with meniscus tear than in the other group. Conclusions Meniscus tear may not affect the postoperative re-habilitation of the knee joint with tibial plateau fracture; neither is there evidence that tibial plateau fracture may hinder meniscus healing.