Postoperative Clinical and Radiological Assessment among Patients of Proximal Tibial Fractures Treated with Open Reduction Internal Fixation with Locking Compression Plate

Background: Present study was done to evaluate the Postoperative Clinical and Radiological assessment among patients of proximal tibial fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation with locking compression plate. Material and Methods: The study was conducted during 1st August 2019 to 31st October 2020 in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indira Gandhi Medical College Shimla that included 21 prospective and 4 retrospective cases who fulfilled the inclusion criteria with closed tibial plateau fracture. Results: All the patients were above 18 years of age; 60% of patients were between 31 to 60 years with mean age of 42.5±14.4 years. There were 21 males and 4 females. The ratio between male to female patients was 5.3:1. Post-operatively eighty percent patients had no articular step and 20% had residual step less than 5 mm. Condylar width was normal in 84% patients while 16% patients had residual widening of less than 5mm. Osteoarthritis occurred or progressed by one or two grades in 16% patients. Eighty four percent of the patients had no or mild pain and 16% of the patients had moderate pain on activity involving the knee joint. Average knee flexion achieved at final follow up was 128.40±9.20 and average extension was 8.60±1.20. All patients exhibited excellent to good stability. Rasmussen’s criteria showed excellent functional result in 56% patient, good in 36% patient and 8% patient had fair result. Mean Rasmussen functional score was 27.32.Excellent radiological results were observed in 76% patients, 20% patients had good and 4% had fair results. Mean Rasmussen radiological score was 8.24. Conclusion: Post-operatively, there was decrease in articular depression, restoration of condylar widening to normal, osteoarthritis was not present or not progressed, restoration of full Range of motion both in flexion as well in extension and had excellent Clinical and Radiological results according to Rasmussen score in majority of treated patients.