Three-Column Classification System for Tibial Plateau Fractures: What the Orthopedic Surgeon Wants to Know

CT of Periarticular Adult Knee Fractures: Classification and Management Implications

Periarticular knee fractures, which include fractures of the distal femur, tibial plateau, and patella, account for 5%-10% of musculoskeletal injuries encountered in trauma centers and emergency rooms. These injuries are frequently complex, with articular surface involvement. Surgical principles center on reconstruction of the articular surface as well as restoration of limb length, alignment, and rotation to reestablish functional knee biomechanics. Fixation principles are guided by fracture morphology, and thus, CT with multiplanar reformats and volume rendering is routinely used to help plan surgical intervention. Fractures involving the distal femur, tibial plateau, and patella have distinct management considerations. This comprehensive CT primer of periarticular knee fractures promotes succinct and clinically relevant reporting as well as optimized communication with orthopedic trauma surgeon colleagues by tying fracture type and key CT findings with surgical decision making. Fracture patterns are presented within commonly employed fracture classification systems, rooted in specific biomechanical principles. Fracture typing of distal femur fractures and patellar fractures is performed using Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification schemes. Tibial plateau fractures are graded using the Schatzker system, informed by a newer explicitly CT-based three-column concept. For each anatomic region, the fracture pattern helps determine the surgical access required, whether bone grafting is warranted, and the choice of hardware that achieves suitable functional outcomes while minimizing the risk of articular collapse and accelerated osteoarthritis. Emphasis is also placed on recognizing bony avulsive patterns that suggest ligament injury to help guide stress testing in the early acute period. ©RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.

Comparison of the intraarticular osteotomy and the "window" osteotomy in the treatment of tibial plateau fracture involving depressed posterolateral fragments

OBJECTIVES

The methods of reduction of depressed posterolateral fragments in tibial plateau fracture through anterolateral approaches remain controversial. This paper aimed to compare the intraarticular osteotomy technique and the "window" osteotomy technique for the reduction of depressed posterolateral fragments through anterolateral approach.

METHOD

From January 2015 to January 2022, we retrospectively reviewed the data on patients with tibial plateau fracture involving depressed posterolateral fragments treated with the intraarticular osteotomy or the "window" osteotomy. 40 patients underwent the intraarticular osteotomy were divided into group A, while 36 patients underwent the "window" osteotomy were divided into group B. The operative time, bone grafting volume, fracture healing time, complication, reduction quality and postoperative functional results were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The average follow-up duration was 16.6 ± 3.7 months. The average bone grafting volume for all patients in group B was essential larger than group A (p = 0.001). Compared to group B, patients in groups A had significantly shorter fracture healing time (p = 0.011). The depth of depressed articular surface, PSA and the radiographic evaluation at 2 days and 6 months after surgery in group A were significantly lower than group B (p<0.05). Based on the HSS knee-rating score, no significant difference in function results was found between the two groups (p>0.05). No significant difference was found in operation time and blood loss between the two groups (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The intraarticular osteotomy could obtain satisfactory clinical results in tibial plateau fracture involving posterolateral fragments.

London International Consensus and Delphi study on hamstring injuries part 1: classification

Muscle injury classification systems for hamstring injuries have evolved to use anatomy and imaging information to aid management and prognosis. However, classification systems lack reliability and validity data and are not specific to individual hamstring muscles, potentially missing parameters vital for sport-specific and activity-specific decision making. A narrative evidence review was conducted followed by a modified Delphi study to build an international consensus on best-practice decision-making for the classification of hamstring injuries. This comprised a digital information gathering survey to a cohort of 46 international hamstring experts (sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists, surgeons, trainers and sports scientists) who were also invited to a face-to-face consensus group meeting in London . Fifteen of these expert clinicians attended to synthesise and refine statements around the management of hamstring injury. A second digital survey was sent to a wider group of 112 international experts. Acceptance was set at 70% agreement. Rounds 1 and 2 survey response rates were 35/46 (76%) and 99/112 (88.4%) of experts responding. Most commonly, experts used the British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification (BAMIC) (58%), Munich (12%) and Barcelona (6%) classification systems for hamstring injury. Issues identified to advance imaging classifications systems include: detailing individual hamstring muscles, establishing optimal use of imaging in diagnosis and classification, and testing the validity and reliability of classification systems. The most used hamstring injury classification system is the BAMIC. This consensus panel recommends hamstring injury classification systems evolve to integrate imaging and clinical parameters around: individual muscles, injury mechanism, sporting demand, functional criteria and patient-reported outcome measures. More research is needed on surgical referral and effectiveness criteria, and validity and reliability of classification systems to guide management.

Fractures of the limbs: basic concepts for the emergency department

Traumatic injuries of the limbs are very common and account for a large number of imaging examinations, especially in emergency departments. These injuries can often be resolved if they are recognized and treated appropriately. Their diagnosis requires a complete clinical assessment and the correct interpretation of the appropriate imaging tests. Radiologists play an important role, especially in diagnosing lesions that can go undetected. To this end, radiologists need to know the normal anatomy and its variants, the mechanisms of injury, and the indications for different imaging tests, among which plain-film X-rays are the main technique for the initial evaluation. This article aims to review the relevant characteristics of limb fractures in adults and of lesions that can be associated with these fractures, as well as how to describe them to ensure appropriate clinical management.

A Novel Locking Buttress Plate Designed for Simultaneous Medial and Posterolateral Tibial Plateau Fractures: Concept and Comparative Finite Element Analysis

OBJECTIVE

The complex tibial plateau fractures involving both medial and posterolateral columns are of frequent occurrence in clinics, but the existing fixation system cannot deal with medial and posterolateral fragments simultaneously. Therefore, a novel locking buttress plate named as medial and posterior column plate (MPCP) was designed in this study to fix the simultaneous medial and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. Meanwhile, the comparative finite element analysis (FEA) was conducted to investigate the discrepancy between MPCP and traditional multiple plates (MP + PLP) in their biomechanical characteristics.

METHODS

Two 3D finite element models of simultaneous medial and posterolateral tibial plateau fracture fixed with MPCP and MP + PLP system, respectively, was constructed. To imitate the axial stress of knee joint in ordinary life, diverse axial forces with 100, 500, 1000, and 1500 N were applied in the two fixation models, and then the equivalent displacement and stress nephograms and values were obtained.

RESULTS

The similar trend of displacement and stress increasing with the loads was observed in the two fixation models. However, several heterogeneities of displacement and stress distribution were found in the two fixation models. The max displacement and von Mises stress values of plates, screws, and fragments in the MPCP fixation model were significantly smaller than that in the MP + PLP fixation model, except for the max-shear stress values.

CONCLUSION

As a single locking buttress plate, the MPCP system showed the excellent benefit on improving the stability of the simultaneous medial and posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, compared with the traditional double plate fixation system. However, the excessive shear stress around screw holes should be paid attention to prevent trabecular microfracture and screw loosening.

Supine Posterior Hoop Plating of Bicondylar Posterior Coronal Shear Tibial Plateau Fractures Without Fibular Osteotomy

Tibial plateau posterolateral fragments, especially those associated with articular depression, are difficult to capture and support with anteriorly or lateral based implants. Applying implants to the posterior plateau has traditionally involved a prone approach or fibular osteotomy, especially when access to both the medial and lateral sides is necessary, such as a bicondylar posterior coronal shear fracture pattern. By combining two previously described techniques for posterolateral rim plating and bicondylar hoop plating, we describe a novel technique to apply a posterior bicondylar hoop implant in the supine position without fibular osteotomy for bicondylar posterior coronal shear injuries.

What does the orthopaedic surgeon want in the radiology report?

Complementary imaging is crucial in the diagnosis and management of the spectrum of Musculoskeletal (MSK) pathologies. Like in all medical specialities, its role in trauma and orthopaedic conditions has evolved. A radiology report following an imaging study should provide an accurate, timely interpretation of images and be presented in a format that allows formal analysis or clarification of a patient's diagnostic dilemma. It is essential that it is descriptive enough to allow clinico-pathological correlation to a patient's condition. A high-quality report follows clinical governance processes, provides clinical feedback, and when appropriate, incorporates advice regarding differential diagnosis or further investigation/management that can be undertaken, permitting the attending clinician to formulate a suitable treatment plan for their patient. In this narrative we explore common radiological investigations and reporting information in trauma and orthopaedic conditions, which would be useful to the attending surgeon.