Abstract: Introduction: Tibial Plateau fractures are some of the commonest fractures that occur and comprise 1% of all fractures. Plain X - ray radiography has been routinely employed over the period of years to diagnose and treat tibial plateau fractures. Careful preoperative planning using CT scans has shown better radiological outcomes postoperatively.
Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the role of CT scans in the management of tibial plateau fractures.
Materials and Methods: 30 cases of tibial plateau fractures admitted and treated at Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Annamalai University, Chidambaram between May 2016 to September 2018 were taken into the study and evaluated using Rasmussen's knee scoring for functional outcome and 18 cases had CT scan of knee preoperatively whereas 12 cases had plain X rays.
Results: Two cases who had preoperative isolated X rays without CT scans had superficial surgical site skin infection and one among them required subsequent bone grafting and additional lateral plating Most patients who had isolated X rays for preoperative evaluation had comparable functional outcome with the patients who had preoperative CT scan although intraoperative time duration was relatively more compared to the patients who had preoperative CT scans.
Conclusion: Although three dimensional CT scans of the proximal tibia provide accurate delineation of the fracture configuration, and may even reveal what plain X rays fail to show, they are not as mandatory so as to affect the functional outcome following fracture fixation provided the surgeon expects and is prepared to deal with the newly discovered intraoperative fracture configuration.
