Evaluation of the Patterns of Tibial Plateau Fractures using MRI

Oh, Jong Keon; Kim, Dong Wook; Kim, Dong Jun; Yoon, Yeo Hun; Rho, Kwon Jae; Wang, Jin Man; Bae, Su Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
To analyse the efficacy of MRI in assessing fracture configuration of tibial plateau.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The subjects were consisted of the MR images and the plain radiographs of the thirty one patients with tibial plateau fracture. With the plain radiographs, the fractures were classified according to the Schatzker's system and the amount of depression and displacement, location of the major fragment were measured. Then the same parameters were measured with MR images. Additionally new fracture lines and resulting fragments which can be fixed with a screw or transfixing wire were described. The two groups were compared with the each parameters.
RESULTS
Fracture classifications were changed in 4 cases. The locations of main fragment were changed in 10 cases. Significant difference was noted in the amount of articular depression (p<0.05) but no significant difference was found in displacement (p=0.332) . Especially in Schatzker-VI cases, articular step offs over 2mm and articular fragments over 2x2cm were revealed in detail by MRI (p<0.05) .
CONCLUSION
Fracture type, amount of depression, location, and fracture configuration can be better visualized by MRI, especially in highly comminuted plateau fractures (Schatzker-VI) . The MR imaging seems to be recommended as a primary mode for evaluation of plateau fractures, especially in Schatzker-VI fractures.