RESUMO
Objective To compare the clinical effects of combined anterolateral and posterolateral approach,lateral incision via double intermuscular spatia approach,and posterolateral transfibular approach in the treatment of fractures of anterolateral and posterolateral columns of tibial plateau.Methods A retrospective analysis was done of the 18 patients with fracture of anterolateral and posterolateral columns of tibial plateau who had been treated at our hospital from January 2012 to January 2015.They were 10 men and 8 women,aged from 28 to 58 years (mean,35.5 years).They were divided into 3 equal groups.Group A was treated with combined anterolateral and posterolateral approach,group B with lateral incision via double intermuscular spatia approach and group C with posterolateral transfibular approach.Operation time,surgical blood loss and complications were recorded.At the final follow-ups,Rasmussen score was used to evaluate the fracture reduction and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score to assess functions of the involved knees.Results The 18 patients were followed up for 10 to 18 months (average,13.3 months).No such early complications as incision infection or deep vein thrombosis occurred.The operation time (89.5 min and 79.3 min,respectively) and surgical blood loss (151.7 mL and 207.8 mL,respectively) for groups A and B were obviously less than those for group C (102.5 min;260.2 mL);the incision length for group A (10.5 cm) was shorter than that for group B (17.4 cm) and for group C (16.3 cm);group C had more cases of excellent reduction (6) than groups A and B (4 for both).There were no obvious differenc es between groups A,B and C in the Rasmussen score (16.8,17.0 and 16.3) or HSS score (86.3,86.0 and 85.7).One case of delayed incision healing due to partial necrosis occurred in group B.At the final follow-ups in group C,the varus stress test showed 2 cases of laxation of degree Ⅱ and 2 cases of laxation of degree Ⅰ.Conclusions In the treatment of fractures of anterolateral and posterolateral columns of tibial plateau,all the 3 approaches can lead to good exposure,fine reduction,rigid fixation and satisfactory outcomes.Although the combined anterolateral and posterolateral approach and lateral incision via double intermuscular spatia approach can lead to similar exposure ranges and fixation effects,the latter is easier in operation while the former exposes the anterior and posterior spatia more fully,allowing the anterior and posterior plates to be better positioned.The posterolateral transfibular approach can lead to the largest exposure range and more precise reduction,but it has risks of damage to the lateral ligamentous structure,greater invasion,postoperative lateral instability and injury to the common peroneal nerve.
