The comparison of clinical effect, knee function, prognosis of double plate fixation and locking plate internal fixation for tibial plateau fractures

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect, knee function improvement and prognosis of double plate internal fixation and locking plate internal fixation in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures.

Methods: Clinical data from 96 tibial plateau fracture patients treated at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Of these, 46 had been treated using locking plate internal fixation and 50 were treated with double T-shaped plate fixation. Clinically related indices, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score of knee function, and ability of daily living (ADL) score were evaluated during postoperative follow-up.

Results: No significant differences were observed in pre-operative patient characteristics in both groups. Healing time, time to weight-bearing, tibial plateau angle (TPA) and lateral posterior angle (PA) were all superior in the locking plate fixation group compared to the double plate fixation group. At three months post-operative visit, range of motion, knee function, flexion deformity, muscle strength, pain, and stability metrics were all superior in the locking plate fixation group compared to the double plate fixation group. ADL scores were also higher in the locking plate fixation group than in the double plate fixation group at three and six months follow-up.

Conclusions: The clinical effect, knee function improvement and prognosis of locking plate internal fixation in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures are better than those of double plate fixation.