A Modified Direct Posterior Midline Approach for the Treatment of Posterior Column Tibial Plateau Fractures

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to introduce a modified surgical approach for the treatment of posterior column tibial plateau fractures. Fifteen patients with posterior column fractures with or without other column fractures were included and treated with this approach between July 2015 and June 2016. The patients were followed up for 18 to 24 months (20.9 ± 1.8 months). Outcomes included neural or vascular injuries, wound complications, nonunion, plate loosening or breakage, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores. Bone union was observed in all cases, and the average time for bone union was 13.5 ± 1.4 weeks (11–16 weeks). No neurovascular injuries, malunion, nonunions, or plate loosening or breakages were observed. The average HSS score was 94.7 ± 4.1 (range: 84–100). The modified direct posterior midline approach can provide excellent exposure and facilitate reduction and internal fixation of posterior column fractures of the tibial plateau, including split and depressed fractures. We expect that this approach can be used as a new effective method for managing complex posterior tibial fractures.

Keywords

tibial plateau fractures - posterior approach - classification - surgical approach

Note

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

^* These authors contributed equally to this work.

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