Blade Plate Fixation of Proximal Tibial Fractures

Byun, Young Soo; Kim, Hong Tae; Hong, Soon Man; Shin, Sang Chul; Jeon, Soo Yeol; Jang, Byung Doo

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the blade plate as an implant for the operative management of proximal tibial fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twelve proximal tibial fractures (AO classification, 10 type A and 2 type C) were treated by direct or indirect reduction and condylar blade plate fixation. The condylar blade plate was fixed on the anteromedial surface of the proximal tibia and cancellous bone graft was performed in 4 fractures with severe cortical comminution or bone defect in early cases. At the final follow-up assessment, the patients were evaluated as to subjective symptoms, objective findings, and radiographic findings.
RESULTS
All fractures were healed in an average of 13.2 weeks (range, 9.0 to 25.0 weeks). There were 3 major complications of a delayed union, a 6-degree varus malunion, and a reduced range of motion of the knee related with associated multiple fractures of the ipsilateral lower limb, but there were no soft tissue problems, loss of fixation, infection, nonunion, and traumatic arthritis. A few patients complained a prominence of the plate on the anteromedial side of the proximal tibia.
CONCLUSION
Blade plate fixation is a reliable method of stable fixation to obtain good results for proximal tibial fractures by early rehabilitation and good fracture healing, particularly in patients with osteoporosis and cortical comminution.