Correlation of parameters on preoperative CT images with intra-articular soft-tissue injuries in acute tibial plateau fractures: A review of 132 patients receiving ARIF

Introduction Tibial plateau fractures often occur in conjunction with soft-tissue injuries of knees. The hypothesis of this study is that parameters of CT imaging can predict intra-articular soft-tissue injuries. Patients and methods Patients who underwent arthroscopically assisted reduction and internal fixation (ARIF) for acute tibial plateau fractures performed by a single orthopedic surgeon between 2005 and 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Patients with concomitant ipsilateral femoral fractures, who had received revision surgery or who had undergone index surgery more than 30 days from the event were excluded. We measured lateral plateau depression and widening, medial plateau depression and displacement, and column involvement observed on preoperative CT scans. Intra-articular soft-tissue injuries were diagnosed based on findings from knee arthroscopy. The correlation of imaging parameters with soft-tissue injuries was analyzed by the area under a receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve and multivariate logistic regression. Results One-hundred and thirty-two patients were enrolled in the study. The average age was 45.7 ± 13.1 years (range: 18–75 years). Lateral tibial plateau depressions >11 mm were significantly associated with increased risk of lateral meniscus tears (p = 0.001). However, there was no significant threshold of lateral tibial plateau widening that could be used to predict lateral meniscus tear. Greater risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) avulsion fracture was observed in younger patients, patients with high-energy-pattern tibial plateau fractures, patients with fractures involving anteromedial or posterolateral columns, and patients with medial tibial plateau displacement?>3 mm (p < 0.05). Conclusion Measuring lateral tibial plateau depression and column involvement on preoperative CT scans can help predict a higher risk of lateral meniscus tear and ACL avulsion fracture respectively in patients with acute tibial plateau fractures.