Functional outcome of complex tibial plateau fractures managed with closed ilizarov.

OBJECTIVE To determine the functional outcome of closed Ilizarov treatment in complex tibial fractures in terms of range of motion and stability of collateral ligaments of knee. METHODS The descriptive case series was conducted at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital/Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore, from July 21, 2012, to January 20, 2013. After evaluation according to advance trauma life support protocol, patients were selected to undergo close Ilizarov. They were followed up for 3 months and functional outcome in terms of range of motion and stability was assessed. We went above-knee if ligaments were torn and the knee was unstable. The above-knee assembly was removed after 6 weeks and tibial fixator was removed at 12 weeks. Subject to fracture healing, full weight-bearing was started 2-4 week later. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Of the40 patients in the study, 33(82.5%) were males and 7(17.5%) were females with a mean age of 36.68±11.77 years (range: 15-55 years). Overall, 36(90%) patients had range of motion graded good to excellent, while and 37 (92.5%) had stability graded good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS Ilizarov fixation is an ideal method of treatment for tibial plateau fractures when extensive dissection and internal fixation are contraindicated due to trauma to the soft tissue, deficiency of bone stock, and bony comminution.