Tibia plateau, shaft, and plafond fractures require careful surgical treatment to restore alignment and allow for early range of motion. For tibia plateau fractures, obtaining anatomic reduction of the articular surface and restoring axial alignment are key surgical goals. Dual incision and plating may be necessary for complex bicondylar or posteromedial fragment fractures. Tibia shaft fractures are typically treated with reamed intramedullary nailing, though plating can be considered. Staged treatment protocols involving temporary external fixation followed later by definitive fixation once soft tissues are ready are commonly used for tibia plafond fractures to minimize complications.
7. Buttress Plating
Buttress plate
- A plate employed to support the fractured
bone in the area of the metaphysis, usually used
in conjunction with lag screws
Antiglide plate
- A plate used to reduce an oblique fracture
indirectly through interference between the
plate and the undisplaced main fragment
20. Lateral locked
vs
dual plating
Ü Can bicondylar fx s be treated with
laterally based locked plating
alone?
Ü Is dual incision and plating better?
36. Current Surgical Indications
- Open Fracture
- Vascular Injury
- Compartment Syndrome
- Multi-trauma
- Unstable Fracture
37. What is an Unstable
Tibial Shaft Fracture?
- 1 cm shortening
- Tibia + fibula fractured at same
level
- High-energy fracture
- Displaced tibia with intact fibula
38. Current Concepts:
Reamed Intramedullary Nailing
- Proximal (4-7 cm from
joint)
- Distal (3-4 cm from joint)
- Segmental fractures
- Closed fractures
- Open fractures
41. Mangled Extremity:
LEAP Study
- Scoring systems are not helpful.
- Initial sensation is not a reliable indicator of
future sensation.
- Results poor at 2 years, whether amputated or
salvaged.
- Results even worse at 7 years.
- Most risk factors for poor results are beyond
surgeon s control.
- Poor results related to socioeconomic status
43. IM Nailing after Ex Fix?
- Best done early (within 2
weeks)
- Pin sites must be clean.
- Patient must be stable.
- Infection risk higher than in
femur.
44. ORIF after Ex Fix?
- Can be delayed.
- Pin sites should be clean.
- Skin must be healthy.
- Can be minimally
invasive.
50. Summary of Current Concepts
- Indications have not changed.
- Reamed intramedullary nailing is the mainstay of
treatment.
- Remember ATLS, Damage Control.
- Don t be in a hurry to amputate.
- Consider delayed ORIF after Ex Fix.
- Obtain and Maintain reduction of proximal and
distal fractures.
- New technologies have not yet withstood
scrutiny.
68. CT Scans
• After external fixation
• Guide to fracture fragments
• Plan surgery
• Incisions
• Lag Screws
• Closed vs. open
• Wire Placement
Tornetta, CORR 1996