OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of surgery reduction and internal fixation through posteromedial knee approaches in the treatment of posteromedial condylar split fracture of tibial plateau.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to July 2009,21 patients with posteromedial condylar split fracture of tibial plateau were treated by posteromedial knee approaches. Among the patients, 14 cases were males and 7 cases were females,ranging from 28 to 68 years old with an average of 36.9 years old. For traumatic causes, 14 cases were injured by traffic accident and 7 cases by fall. Compound injury, 15 cases combined with anterior cruciate ligament injury and tibia insertion avulsion fracture; 14 cases combined with posterolateral de-pressed tibial plateau fracture. Rasmussen assessment criteria was used to evaluate the therapeutic effects.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up,from 12 to 30 months with an average of 17.3 months. All patients didn't undergo infection,looseness and rupture of fixation,nonunion of fracture,inversion and eversion of the knee or displacement of fracture. All cases attained anatomical reduction after operation,only 1 patient felt numbness of posterior lower part of the calf. According to Rasmussen assessment criteria, 12 cases got an excellent result, 7 good and 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONIt is beneficial for the postermedial knee approaches to be used in the reduction and fixation of posteromedial condylar split fracture of tibial plateau. It has advantages of clearly exposure, convenient placement of the internal fixation, less trauma and good therapeutic effects.