PURPOSE To find out the efficiency of two staged operation of patients with high energy proximal tibia fracture with severe soft tissue damage, the first step being external fixation, and the second, internal fixation with plates. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study group was the 42 patients who had followed for one year out of a group of 56, performed the first step external fixation and the second step internal fixation with plates retrospectively, from March 2003 to March 2007. The average age of the study group was 51.4, 26 men, and 16 women participating in this study. The average time of follow up was 32 months. In the final follow up, investigations of the radiological assessments and functional abilities of the bony fusion were carried out along with the complications of the soft tissue. RESULTS The duration after the first step external fixation until second step internal fixation to be performed was 14.9 (6~40) days in average. The final bone fusion took about 15 weeks, and according to the final follow up, the range of motion of the knee was around 110.8 degrees (6.2~117 degrees). In 31 cases, only the internal fixation was performed, while in 11 cases, soft tissue reconstruction was carried out with the internal fixations. As for the complications there were 2 cases of deep soft tissue infection, 2 cases of nonunion, 1 case of malunion and 1 case of knee joint stiffness. CONCLUSION In cases of proximal tibia fracture with severe soft tissue damage, external fixation was important to secure the safety of the fracture, carry forward the anatomical alignment, plan the soft tissue safety and manage the wound to decrease the number of microbial in the next operation, which is the internal fixation with plates.
PURPOSE To assess diagnostic efficacy of the MRI in thoracolumbar fractures, especially in changes of bone and soft tissue which cannot be documented by other diagnostic tools. MATERIALS AND METHODS Among 85 patients managed for thoracolumbar fractures between January 1997 and June 2003, MRI was performed in 30 patients to get more informations. Plain X-ray, CT and MRI of these cases were reviewed retrospectively by two orthopaedic spine surgeons and one radiologist to investigate the informations which only MRI could afford. RESULTS 14 (46.7%) among 30 patients had occult fractures of vertebrae other than main fracture which had not been diagnosed as fractured. Besides 6 patients who showed distraction of posterior structure on plain X-ray, injury of posterior ligament complex was confirmed by MRI in 12(40%) patients. Additionally, MRI visualized other soft tissue injuries such as intramuscular and subcutaneous hematoma, changes of the spinal cord and intervertebral disc. In 16 among 30 patients, informations achieved from MRI were the most important factors in deciding treatment modality. CONCLUSION MRI seems to be efficient in visualizing not only soft tissue injury such as ligament but also occult fractures of additional vertebra in thoracolumbar fractures, therefore MRI seems to be an important diagnostic tool in decision of treatment modalities, especially in cases of uncertain stability.
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Tibial plateau fractures can occur concomitent with injuries to the collateral, cruciate ligament and mensci. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the frequency of soft tissue injuries associated with tibial plateau fractures and analyze the pattern of fracture more accurately by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). Thirty one plateau fractures were evaluated in this study. MRI was more accurate in determining the classification of the fracture and measuring the displacement and depression of fragment. There was a 71%(22 of 31) frequency of associated soft tissue injuries in this series of tibial plateau fractures. The medial collateral ligaments were injured in 32.3%(10 of 31), the anterior cruciate ligaments in 29%(9 of 31), the posterior cruciated ligament in 22.5%(7 of 31), the lateral collateral ligament in 19.4%(6 of 31), and the menisci in 39%(12of 31). Schatzker type II and IV fracture patterns were associated with the highest frequency of soft tissure injuries. Medial collateral ligament injuries were most commonly associated with Schatzker type II fracture patterns. Menisci were most commonly injured with Schazker type IV fracture patterns. Most of the patients with acute tibial plateau fracture were commonly associated with ligamentous and meniscal injuries. MRI can aid in accurate evaluation of tibial plateau fracture patterns and decision of treatement plan.