Tibial Plateau Fractures: Therapeutic and Prognostic Aspects of Surgical Management

Abdoulaye Camara*, Mohamed Daffe, Badara Dembele, Malick Diop, Mayoro Sow and André Daniel Sane

Introduction: Tibial plateau fractures account for 5–8% of lower limb fractures and 1% of fractures in adults. 

Materials and methods: This was a prospective, single-center, descriptive, continuous study conducted over an 18-month period, from September 15, 2022, to March 15, 2024, in the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of CHNDJ.

We studied the therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of surgical treatment for tibial plateau fractures. 

Results: The time to treatment was 2 to 6 days in 56.2% of our patients. The anterolateral approach was used in 74% of cases. Lateral screw plates were used in 53.1% of our patients, and external fixators combined with screws in 15.6% of patients. The average length of hospital stay was 4.6 days, ranging from 1 to 54 days. The average time to bone union was 12 weeks, ranging from 8 to 16 weeks. Our anatomical results were very good or good in 79.2% of cases, and the overall functional results were very good or good in 95.8% of cases.

We recorded 15.8% infection, 5.3% skin necrosis, 10.5% knee stiffness, 5.3% malunion, 15.8% gonarthrosis, and 15.8% proximal tibial necrosis. 

Conclusion: Tibial plateau fractures are clearly on the rise in our societies with the advent of motorized two-wheeled vehicles as a means of public transportation. Tibial plateau fractures are breaks in the bone continuity affecting the metaphyseal-epiphyseal spongy bone at the upper end of the tibia, at least one of which divides the articular cartilage [1]. 

Keywords:

Published on: Aug 22, 2025 Pages: 26-31

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/ojor.000053
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