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The distinct prediction standards for radiological assessments associated with soft tissue injuries in the acute tibial plateau fracture

  • Original Article • KNEE - ARTHROPLASTY
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Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the incidence of soft tissue injury in the tibial plateau fracture by magnetic resonance image (MRI) and reveal the relationship between the articular widening/depression and the risk of meniscus and ligament disorder. A total of 54 patients with tibial plateau fracture were indicated for operative intervention. Soft tissue injuries were assessed by MRI. Meniscus, anterior/posterior cruciate ligaments and medial/lateral collateral ligaments injuries on MRI were evaluated. The articular widening/depression was measured in picture archiving and communication systems. Schatzker classification of fracture types was not significantly associated with soft tissue injuries. The rates of soft tissue injury in types IV and II (respectively, 85.7 and 74.1 %) were higher than those in other types. The meniscus injury was the most common soft tissue damage, and the incidence of meniscus injury was 55.6 %. When LPDCT and LPWCT were, respectively, about 7.6 mm and 10.1 mm and LPDX-ray and LPWX-ray, respectively, 5.6 and 7.4 mm, more attention should be paid on the collateral and cruciate ligament injuries in types I, II and III. Furthermore, when LPWCT and LPWX-ray were, respectively, about 10.3 and 8.6 mm, the collateral and cruciate ligaments were susceptible to injury in types IV and V. In conclusion, tibial plateau fracture can occur high morbidity of soft tissue injury, including meniscus and ligament disorder. X-ray and CT scan had different predicting standards for soft tissue injury, and the articular widening/depression in the tibial plateau was associated with meniscus and ligament injuries.

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Abbreviations

MDCT:

Multidetector computed tomography

LPW:

Lateral plateau widening

LPD:

Lateral plateau depression

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

ACL/PCL:

Anterior/posterior cruciate ligament

MCL/LCL:

Medial/lateral collateral ligament

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Traumatology Department, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, No. 31 East Street of Xin Jie Kou, Beijing, 100035, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Wang, Jie Wei & Manyi Wang

  2. Medical Center Tsinghua University, No. 30 Shuangqing Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Wang

Authors
  1. Jun Wang
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  2. Jie Wei
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  3. Manyi Wang
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Correspondence to Manyi Wang.

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Wang, J., Wei, J. & Wang, M. The distinct prediction standards for radiological assessments associated with soft tissue injuries in the acute tibial plateau fracture. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 25, 913–920 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-015-1614-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-015-1614-5

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