Tibial Plateau Fracture Surgical Care Using Standardized Protocols Over Time: A Single Center's Longitudinal View

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Musculoskeletal research

Background:

• Tibial plateau fractures are complex injuries impacting knee function.
• Understanding long-term outcomes and treatment evolution is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze demographics, injury patterns, management, and outcomes of tibial plateau fractures over 16 years.
• To evaluate changes in surgical strategies and their impact on patient recovery.

Main Methods:

• Prospective data collection from 716 patients with 725 tibial plateau fractures.
• Stratification of patients into three treatment time periods for comparative analysis.
• Assessment of functional status, range of motion, complications, and radiographic healing.

Main Results:

• Consistent return to baseline function across all treatment periods.
• No significant change in knee range of motion or overall complication rates over time.
• Improved articular reduction achieved in later treatment periods, with reduced post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention for tibial plateau fractures generally leads to functional recovery.
• Enhanced surgical precision in achieving anatomic reduction did not correlate with improved functional outcomes.
• Long-term follow-up demonstrates consistent functional recovery despite evolving surgical techniques.