Predictors of Symptomatic Implant Removal After Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Tibial Plateau Fractures: A...

A retrospective case-control study was conducted at a level I trauma center to assess whether radiographic details of tibial plateau fixation can predict symptomatic implant removal. Nine hundred fifty-one tibial plateau fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation from 2007 to 2016. Eighty-two (9%) were treated with implant removal for localized pain over the implant. A control group was selected from the remaining patients using cumulative sampling. Records and radiographs were reviewed for predictors hypothesized to be associated with implant removal. Based on the authors' multivariable model, implant removal was associated with each additional protruding screw (adjusted odds ratio, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.55; P<.001), bicondylar fractures (adjusted odds ratio, 2.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-4.11; P=.02), and lower body mass index (P=.05). Associations that approached significance were observed with decreased age (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82 per 10 years; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.01; P=.06) and closed fractures (adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-1.19; P=.09). The model discriminated fractures requiring implant removal with moderate accuracy (area under the curve=0.71). Each additional screw that radiographically protrudes beyond the far cortex increases the odds of symptomatic implant removal by 32%. Bicondylar fractures and lower body mass index are also associated with symptomatic implant removal. These findings might help inform patients and guide fixation techniques to reduce the likelihood of symptomatic implant removal. [Orthopedics. 2020;43(3):161-167.].