Combined plate and nail fixation of bicondylar tibial plateau fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with meta-diaphyseal comminution commonly have a compromised soft tissue envelope. Combined plate-nail fixation is an emerging technique that utilizes a limited anterolateral approach for plate application and percutaneous incisions for placement of an intramedullary nail. This technique alleviates the need for a separate medial approach to the proximal tibia. We report a series of patients treated with this approach and outline the steps for implementation.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 18 consecutive patients treated with combination lateral locked plating and intramedullary nailing at a single academic institution from 2016 to 2019. Of these, 16 patients met inclusion criteria and were included in this study. All patients had AO/OTA type 41C2/C3 fractures. Primary outcomes included coronal plane and sagittal plane alignment at latest follow up, rate of articular subsidence at latest follow up, and rate of postoperative infection.

RESULTS: Of the 16 patients included, average followup was 8.2 months (range 0.1-29.7 months). At latest follow-up, average coronal alignment ranged from 0.8±1.2 degrees of varus (maximum 4.0 degrees) to 1.4±1.7 degrees of valgus (maximum 4.0 degrees). Average sagittal alignment ranged from 0.8±1.1 degrees of procurvatum (maximum 3.0 degrees) to 0.6±1.2 degrees of recurvatum (maximum 4.0 degrees). There was no radiographic evidence of articular subsidence at latest follow up for any patient. One patient (5.9%) presented at 141 days postoperatively with a draining wound and infection.

CONCLUSIONS: Combination plate-nail fixation is a viable option for treating patients with select bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with meta-diaphyseal comminution. This case series with short-term followup demonstrates acceptable radiographic and clinical outcomes, as well as rates of postoperative infection and implant removal similar to those currently reported in the literature for other techniques used to treat these fractures.