Management of the Schatzker VI fractures with lateral locked screw plating

Abstract

Complex proximal tibial plateau fractures need surgical treatment to achieve good clinical results. The treatment of this kind of fractures is often complicated either by the patient’s compromised general conditions, or by soft tissue damage. The locking plate combines the technical advantages of an angular stable plate with those of the modern biological plating technique. From December 2002 to December 2008 we treated 18 patients with complex fractures of the tibial plateau (Schatzker VI). All patients were treated with a fixed angle locking plate, 15 with the LISS (Less Invasive Stabilisation System) and 3 with ZPLT (Zimmer Periarticular Locking Plate system). Average time for full weight bearing was 16.2 weeks. In 3 cases we removed the fixation devices after healing because the patients didn’t tolerate the fixation devices. Two patients developed superficial infections that we treated with antibiotic therapy. In 2 cases the LISS plate broke because of pseudarthrosis at the diaphyseal level. To conclude, analysing the results we obtained, we consider that the LISS system is an extremely effective fixation device for the treatment of such difficult and complicated fractures as high energy tibial plateau fractures certainly are. Indirect reduction of the fracture, obtained either with an external fixator, or with traction, must precede the use of the fixation device. The failures, such as post-op malalignment or loss of reduction, are due to a wrong evaluation of the fracture morphology. In fact, comminuted fractures, dislocation and rotation of the medial tibial plateau cannot be stabilised just with lateral angular stable plates, but fixation of the medial tibial plateau must be performed first.