Tibial intercondylar eminence fractures in adults: arthroscopic treatment

Abstract

Results obtained from the surgical treatment of 15 cases of type II and III tibial intercondylar eminence fractures—according to the classification of Meyers and McKeever [12, 13]—are reported in this paper. The average age of the patients observed was 22 years (range 18–41). All patients underwent an arthroscopic procedure of reduction and fixation. We used a bioabsorbable suture in ten patients and a nonabsorbable suture in five patients. The suture was passed at the ACL insertion, then pulled out through drilled tunnels and tied onto the anterior surface of the tibial metaphysis. Two of the 15 patients treated underwent an additional arthroscopic procedure because of arthrofibrosis, 2 months after the first surgical intervention. All patients were examined clinically and radiographically with an average follow-up of 18 months. According to the IKDC scoring system, recovery of the 13 patients not undergoing additional intervention was graded as normal or near normal. In 14 patients, anterior laxity was inferior to 5 mm at the KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation. Absorbable or nonabsorbable suture fixation is effective for obtaining a secure fixation and achieves good clinical and functional mid-term results.