%0 Journal Article
%T Comparison of Functional Outcomes of Tibial Plateau Fractures Treated with Nonlocking and Locking Plate Fixations: A Nonrandomized Clinical Trial
%A Mohammad Ali Tahririan
%A Seyyed Hamid Mousavitadi
%A Mohsen Derakhshan
%J ISRN Orthopedics
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/324573
%X Fixation of tibial plateau fractures with plate has been widely used. This prospective study was planned to compare locking plate fixation of tibial plateau fracture with nonlocking methods in terms of their functional outcomes. The subjects of the study were selected from consecutive patients suffering from tibial plateau fractures referred to Kashani Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, between 2012 and 2013 and were candidate for surgery. The final included patients were assigned to two groups, those who were treated with locking plate ( ) and those who were treated with nonlocking plates ( ). The mean duration of follow-up was 13.4 months (ranging between 10 and 17 months). The mean of knee scores was significantly higher in locking plate group than in nonlocking plate group at the follow-up time ( versus , ). Also, the mean VAS pain severity score was significantly lower in locking plate group compared with nonlocking plate group ( versus , ). This study confirmed superiority of the locking plate method over nonlocking plate method with regard to knee score as well as VAS pain score. 1. Introduction Proximal tibial fractures are important fractures involving one of the main weight-bearing joints whose serious injury results in movement and ability dysfunctions [1]. The main goal of the treatment of these fractures is to maintain the normal function of the knee joint, improve the joint instability, prevent lower limb malalignment and deformity, and prevent knee osteoarthritis [2¨C4]. Applying effective preventive approaches can lead to maintained articular surface, uniform plateau level, and a near normal range of knee joint motion. The main defined criteria in functional assessment of patients with proximal plateau fractures of tibia include knee range of motion, time to achieve union, patient¡¯s ability to walk, patient¡¯s ability to climb stairs, the pain severity while walking as well as at rest, muscle strength, severity of instability in the knee, and loss of active extension of the knee [5¨C8]. Unfortunately, there is no gold standard treatment approach for various types of tibial plateau fractures; therefore, different methods have been employed depending on the type of fracture. Tibial plateau fixation with plate especially nonlocking plates has been widely used in recent years [9, 10]. One of the commonly applied types of these plates is the locking compression plate that provides greater stability in these unstable fractures and creates a stronger connection between the articular components [11]. Stabilizing the joint surface by this method, due to its
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.orthopedics/2014/324573/