Abstract: Background: Proximal tibia fractures are one of the commonest fractures encountered. The optimal treatment of such fractures are very important as the proximal tibia is one of the major weight bearing surface in the lower limb and it largely depends upon accurate articular reduction and the condition of the surrounding soft tissues. Thus this study aims at assessing the functional outcome of surgically treated tibial plateau fractures.
Materials and Method: A prospective study of patients admitted with tibial plateau factures from the period of May 2014 to December 2015 who were surgically treated. The functional outcome was assessed using WOMAC score and Harkonen-Jarvinen criteria after a mean follow-up of one year. The statistical analysis was done using the paired t-test.
Results: The present study included 15 patients diagnosed with Tibial Plateau fractures. The mean duration of surgery was 2 hours & 46 minutes. The mean blood loss was 220ml. The average time to union was 122 days. The mean range of motion of knee joint was 115°. Two patients developed knee instability & was diagnosed to have Anterior Cruciate ligament injury & Medial Meniscal injury respectively by diagnostic arthroscopy. The mean WOMAC score was 11.2. All the four parameters of HJ criteria were decreased postoperatively.
Conclusion: The fractures of proximal tibia represent a wide spectrum of severity. The functional outcome of Tibial plateau fractures following surgery is good. However, surgery needs to be done once the soft tissue swelling decreases, articular reconstruction, and valgus/varus malalignment correction needs to be given preference, before internal fixation of such fractures.
