Worse functional, clinical outcomes found in patients with tibial plateau fractures with tibial eminence

 

Patients who had tibial plateau fractures with a tibial eminence component experienced worse knee range of motion up to 1 year following surgical treatment, as well as less rapid improvements in functional outcomes, compared with patients who did not have this component.

Sanjit R . Konda, MD, and colleagues categorized 293 patients who presented with a tibial plateau fracture into cohorts with a tibial eminence component and those without a tibial eminence component. Researchers evaluated and compared short musculoskeletal functional assessment (SMFA), VAS pain and knee range of motion (ROM) at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively.

Results showed an associated tibial eminence component was more likely to occur with Orthopaedic Trauma Association 41-C fractures compared with 41-B fractures. Patients in the tibial eminence cohort had worse knee ROM at 3 months postoperatively. Researchers noted significantly worse total SMFA and knee ROM at 6 months in the tibial eminence cohort. However, only knee ROM remained significantly worse in the tibial eminence cohort by 12 months postoperatively.

According to multivariate analysis, tibial eminence involvement significantly predicted ROM at 6 months and 12 months and SMFA at 6 months. Researchers found ROM was significantly predicted by BMI, while total SMFA was significantly predicted by age at all time points. – by Casey Tingle

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.