THE RESULTS OF SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF DISPLACED TIBIAL PLATEAU FRACTURES IN THE ELDERLY

We retrospectively reviewed 32 elderly patients (mean age 71.7 years, range 66-83 years) with displaced tibial plateau fractures after a mea n of 3.7 years (range 1-7 years) after operative treatment. Schatzker type 2 fracture was the commonest pattern of fracture (60.3 per cent). According to the modified Rasmussen clinical and radiographic criteri a, there were nine excellent, 14 good, five fair and four poor results clinically, and 11 excellent, 12 good, six fair and three poor result s radiographically. There was no significant correlation between the F nal radiographic appearance and clinical outcome. Fourteen patients mo bilized pastoperatively on a continuous passive motion machine followe d by a cast brace had a better result than those mobilized in a cast b race alone, bat the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.29). Postoperative complications included deep vein thrombosis in tw o patients.