OBJECTIVETo discuss the fracture patterns,operative procedures and clinical results of open reduction and internal fixation via a posterior approach to treat posterior fractures of tibial plateau.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to February 2011, 8 patients with posterior tibial plateau fractures treated with posterior approach, were reviewed retrospectively. There were 5 males and 3 females,with an average of 41.1 years ranging from 23 to 55. Of the 8 cases, 5 cases were caused by traffic accidents, 3 caused by fall. Two cases of posterior coronal fractures combined with avulsion of posterior cruciate ligament and 1 case of posterolateral fractures associated with collapse fractures was treated via a S-shaped approach, 2 cases of posteromedial fracture via a posteromedial reversed L-shaped approach, another 3 cases of complex fractures involving anterior and posterior of tibial plateau, and metaphsis via a posteromedial reversed L-shaped approach combined with anterolateral approach. Fractures with articular surface collapse were applied with bone grafting.

RESULTSAll the 8 cases were followed up for 8 to 39 months (means 20 months). All cases had attained bone union, the time of bone healing was 14.5 weeks in average ranging from 11 to 21 weeks. No infection, no blood vessel or nerve injuries and loosening or breakage of screw were found. There were no significant differences about the tibial plateau angle (TPA) and the posterior slope angle (PA) on radiographies between immediately after operation and 6 months after operation. According to the Rasmussen functional scoring,the results were excellent in 4, good in 3, fair in 1. Radiologic results were graded with the Rasmussen score to evaluate the reduction of the fracture, the scores at last followed-up was 14 to 18 scores (means 17.25), the results were excellent in 6, good in 2.

CONCLUSIONPosterior S-shaped or L-shaped approach can facilitate the reduction and fixation with good exposure for posterior fractures of tibial plateau.