OBJECTIVETo explore clinical curative effects of bilateral bone plate with autogenous iliac bone graft for the treatment of Schatzker IV-VI complex tibial plateau fractures.

METHODSFrom December 2011 to December 2013,32 patients with complex tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker IV-VI) were operated by bilateral bone plate with autogenous iliac bone graft. Among them,including 20 males and 12 females with an average age of 37.4 years old ranged from 19 to 54 years old; 14 cases on the left side and 18 cases on the right side; the time from injury to operation ranged from 5 h to 9 d with an average of 3.5 d. According to Schatzker classification, 8 cases were type IV, 16 cases were type V and 8 cases were type VI; according to Oestern closed fracture classification, 5 cases were type I , 19 cases were type II, 7 cases were type III and 1 case was type IV. Postoperative complications were observed and Lysholm scoring were used to evaluate functional assessment.

RESULTSThirty-two patients were followed up from 10 to 23 months with an average of 14 months. According to Lysholm scoring, totall score was 88.91 ± 8.41, 20 cases got excellent results, 9 moderate and 3 poor. One patient occurred postoperative wound infection and exposure of tibia,while healed after dressing changing and skin flap transplantation. All patients were removed internal fixation ranged from 12 to 18 months without fracture non-union.

CONCLUSIONBilateral bone plate with autogenous iliac bone graft for the treatment of Schatzker IV-VI complex tibial plateau fractures has advantages of clear exposure, stable fixation, less trauma to the intraoperative blood supply and good fracture healing.