A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOME OF PROXIMAL TIBIA FRACTURES TREATED WITH LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATES IN ADULTS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Jagdeesh Bhagwan Panse, Shrinivas Subhash Jadhav, Rishab R. Tiwari

BACKGROUND Most of the tibial fractures are closed fractures accounting to all most three quarters (76.5%) of all tibial fractures. Surgery is accepted more and more as primary treatment for proximal tibia fractures as studies have shown that operative treatment results in lower rate of fracture non-union, symptomatic malunion than conservative management. Incidence of high energy proximal tibia fracture is increasing and may contribute to these findings because, increased initial fracture displacement, shortening, comminution have been predictive of mal-union and poor patient outcome with non-operative care. Open reduction & locking compression plating thus may be better options for displaced proximal tibia fracture. The objective of the study is to evaluate the role of open reduction and internal fixation and to evaluate clinical and functional outcome of fracture of the proximal tibia treated with locking compression plates in adults with six months follow up. METHODS The study was carried out during the period of April 2015 to March 2018 in the Department of Orthopaedics, Inlaks and Budhrani Hospital, Pune, (MH). Study includes 30 cases of proximal tibia fracture in the population aged between 18 years to 60 years, irrespective of sex, with fracture proximal tibial plate (amenable to open reduction, internal fixation with LCP with minimum of three screw in proximal and distal fragment). The clinical and radiological outcome was evaluated using Rasmussen’s score and plain radiograph. Union was evaluated clinically and radiographically. Complications were recorded. RESULTS Highest number of patients were seen mainly in the age group of 40-50 years (10 patients, 33.33%). Out of 30 patients, 28 were male patients (93.33%). Most patients had fracture union in 18 weeks and 16 weeks with 9 patients in each group (30%). The mean duration for fracture healing was 16.14 weeks. CONCLUSIONS This study showed clinically and radiologically satisfactory results. Overall operative treatment with locking compression plates can be used to obtain stable fixation and excellent outcome.

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