Two-level fixation with headless compression screws for tibial plateau fractures

Reduction and fixation of tibial plateau fractures associated with small, "floating" intra-articular fragments proposes a challenge. We use fully threaded headless compression screws for (interfragmentary) fixation of such fragments before final plate fixation when standard fixation of intra-articular fragments with k-wires or lag screws is deemed insufficient. Our aim is to describe our technique and clinical experience of this two-level fixation.

Between 2006 and 2021, 29 patients with a comminuted tibial plateau fracture were treated with this two-level fixation in this retrospective case series. Clinical baseline and surgical variables were collected for all patients. Clinical outcome variables were available for 28 patients with a median follow-up of 16.5 months (IQR 5-24). Functional outcomes were measured with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and reported by 22 patients at a median of 5.2 years (IQR 3.5-9.8).

Reduction was anatomic or good in 82% of cases, fair in 14%, and a malreduction in 4%. Arthrosis was graded as grade 0 in 25% of cases, 1 in 39%, 2 in 21%, and 3 in 14%. Flexion was 110 degrees (IQR 100-130). Five patients had an extension deficit of 5 to 10 degrees. Median KOOS for symptoms and stiffness was 69 points (IQR 45-78), for pain 71 (IQR 45-88), for ADL 85 (IQR 52-95), for sports 30 (IQR 11-55), and for quality of life 34 (IQR 19-56).

The use of fully threaded headless compression screws is a simple and helpful addition in the treatment of comminuted tibial plateau fractures.