SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF TIBIAL PLATEAU FRACTURES

From 1992 to 1996, 49 patients with 49 tibial plateau fractures underw ent operative treatment at the First Orthopaedic Department of the Gen eral Hospital of Athens. There were 3 type I fractures, 12 type II, 5 type III, 9 type IV, 5 type V and 15 type VI according to Schatzker's classification. 7 of the type VI fractures were open (5 grade II and 2 grade IIIA). All fractures were managed with open reduction and inter nal fixation and were followed to complete healing which averaged 4 mo nths. 28 patients had excellent results, 13 good, 6 fair and 2 poor re sults. The fair and poor results were in polytrauma patients and in pa tients with open (grade II and grade IIIA) type VI fractures. Open red uction and internal fixation, when not strongly contraindicated, was f ound to be the preferred red treatment in displaced tibial plateau fra ctures.