Association between Preoperative CT findings and Meniscal injury in the Fracture of Tibial Plateau: A Preliminary Report
Sorawut Thamyongkit MD1,2, Paphon Sa-ngasoongsong MD2, Noratep Kulachote MD2, Thumanoon Ruangchaijatuporn MD3, Nadhaporn Saengpetch MD2, Chalermchai Limitlaohaphan MD2, Chusak Kijkunasathian MD2
Affiliation : 1 Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 3 Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To determine the association between computerized tomography [CT] findings measurements and the incidence
of meniscus injury diagnosed by arthroscopic technique.
Materials and Methods : A prospective cohort study was conducted with ten patients (6 males and 4 females) aged 18 to 80
years (mean 52.4) who had sustained a tibial plateau fracture and undergone open reduction internal fixation [ORIF] between
June 2015 and July 2016. Data on age, sex, mechanism of injury, energy level of injury, type of meniscus injury, and
Schatzker classification were collected. Seven of the patients (70%) had associated meniscal injury. Lateral plateau depression
[LPD], medial plateau depression [MPD], lateral plateau widening [LPW] and medial plateau widening [MPW] were
measured using pre-operative CT scans for each patient and the association between CT findings measurements and
meniscus injury was calculated.
Results : LPW was found to be significantly associated with both lateral meniscus injury (p = 0.044) and medial meniscus
injury (p = 0.011). Average 6-month postoperative WOMAC score in our study was 12.8. No patient scored higher than 19.
Conclusion : Measurements made using CT imaging are useful in predicting meniscal injury. This result supports the value
of MRI or arthroscopic-assisted surgery in tibial plateau fractures in selected case.
Keywords : Tibial fracture, Arthroscopy, Meniscus, CT scan, Plateau depression, Plateau widening
