Bidirectional-traction Steinmann pin poking reduction and minimally anatomical plate fixation for hyperextension tibial plateau fractures / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of bidirectional-traction, Steinmann pin poking reduction,anatomic plate and raft technique in the treatment of hyperextension tibial plateau fractures.Methods:The data of 25 patients with hyperextension tibial plateau fractures admitted to Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao) from July 2017 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the treatment methods, they were divided into bidirectional-traction group (treated with bidirectional-traction, Steinmann pin poking reduction, anatomic plate and raft technique) and open reduction group (treated with open reduction, bone grafting and two plates fixation). The bidirectional-traction group included 14 patients, with 8 males and 6 females; the age was 50.29±9.23 years (range, 38-61 years). The cause of the injury was a traffic accident in 4 patients, a fall from height in 7 patients and a fall from standing height in 3 patients. According to Schatzker classification, there were 5 Schatzker type V and 9 type VI fractures. The open reduction group included 11 patients (7 males and 4 females); with a mean age of 58.00±10.58 years (range, 48-69 years). 3 cases were injured by traffic accident, 6 cases by falling from height, and 2 cases by falling from standing height. According to Schatzker classification, there were 4 type V and 7 type VI. Preoperative waiting time, operative time, blood loss and percentage of blood loss, incision length, fracture healing time, tibial posterior inclination, medial proximal tibial angle, visual analogue scale (VAS) on the first day after surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score 6 months after surgery were compared between the two groups.Results:Patients in both groups were followed up for more than 6 months. The follow-up time was 7 to 48 months with an average of 22.76 months. There were significant differences in the preoperative waiting time [6 (4, 8) d vs. 8 (7, 11) d, W=114.00, P=0.043], the incision length [15.0 (12.5, 16.0) cm vs. 30.0 (28.0, 31.0) cm, W=154.00, P<0.001], postoperative VAS [4 (3, 4) points vs. 5 (5, 6) points, W=143.00, P<0.001], blood loss [147 (107, 206) ml vs. 267 (191, 362) ml, W=116.00, P=0.033], blood loss percentage [2.95% (2.58%, 5.20%) vs. 6.40% (4.05%, 7.00%), W=118.00, P=0.027] between the bidirectional-traction group and open reduction group. There were not significant differences in the operation time [120 (118, 120) min vs. 119 (101, 154) min, W=68.50, P=0.656], fracture healing time (8.18±1.03 weeks vs. 8.86±1.27 weeks, t=1.49, P=0.149), HSS score (8.43±3.72 vs. 85.18±7.73, t=1.28, P=0.221) and medial proximal tibial angle 6 months after surgery (87.66°±1.53° vs. 86.47°±2.24°, t=1.57, P=0.130) between the two groups. Postoperative tibial posterior inclination was improved in both groups. There was no significant difference in the tibial posterior inclination before surgery, immediately after surgery and 6 months after surgery (-14.96°±6.44°, 5.55°±1.02°, 5.61°±0.82°) in the bidirectional-traction group and -12.26°±2.93°, 7.07°±3.21° and 7.14°±3.17° in the open reduction group, P>0.05). There were no postoperative complications such as acute compartment syndrome or knee stiffness in both groups. Conclusion:The treatment of hyperextension tibial plateau fracture with bidirectional-traction, Steinmann pin poking reduction, anatomic plate and raft technique can shorten preoperative waiting time, reduce incision length, decrease blood loss and lower VAS. It is a minimally invasive, rapid and effective method, which has achieved good clinical results and is worth promoting.