OBJECTIVETo value the use of an injectable minimally invasive calcium sulfate cement for displaced tibial plateau fractures.

METHODSThirteen patients with lateral tibial plateau fractures treated with internal fixation and bone grafting were matched with 13 patients treated using internal fixation and an injectable calcium sulfate cement. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed up for a minimum of one year. The peri-operative complication, quality of reduction, maintenance of reduction, function assessment and development of post-traumatic osteoarthritis was compared in both groups.

RESULTSTen patients in the internal fixation and bone graft group had excellent anatomical reductions as judged on immediate post-operative radiographs but some loss of reduction on follow-up at one year was observed in 8 of the 13 (61%) cases. Twelve patients from the MIIG group had an excellent reduction on immediate post-operative radiographs but 3 (23%)demonstrated some loss of reduction of the plateau at one year follow-up (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe use of MIIG and internal fixation is associated with more favourable clinical results than conventional treatment with internal fixation and bone grafting for lateral tibial plateau fractures.