Letter to the Editor concerning “Revisiting the Schatzker classification of tibial plateau fractures” by Kfuri M, Schatzker J. Injury. 2018 Dec;49(12):2252–2263

Abstract Background To explore the association between the classification for tibial plateau fractures (TPF) and the popliteal artery injury (PAI).Methods 22 TPF patients accompanied by PAI who were treated from May 2012 to July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 males and 3 females with an average age of 49.43 years. The Schatzker classification and three-column classification were performed for TPF. The severity of extremity injury was evaluated using the mangled extremity severity score (MESS). Except 3 patients treated with amputation, the remaining patients underwent surgical repair of popliteal artery and fracture external fixation. The outcome was evaluated using the Rasmussen score for tibial head fractures.Results There were 10 cases of Schatzker type IV fractures, 1 case of type V fractures and 11 cases of type VI fractures. Based on the three-column classification, the posterior column was involved in 22 cases, 2 columns in 15 cases and 3 columns in 6 cases. The MESS was 6-10 points, with an average of 7.59 points. Except 1 case directly receiving amputation, 3 cases of segment P1 injury was observed via preoperative DSA + intraoperative exploration, while segment P2 in 6 cases and segment P3 in 12 cases. Popliteal artery was found completely ruptured in 11 cases, partially ruptured in 1 case, and severely contused with thrombosis in 10 cases. The Rasmussen score was given to 19 patients at the last follow-up, except for the cases undergoing amputation. The outcome was satisfied in 14 cases, unsatisfied in 5 cases.Conclusion: In patients with complex TPF, the risk of PAI becomes higher with the increase of Schatzker classification level. Knee CT scan is helpful in determining the severity of fractures and evaluating PAI. Based on the three-column classification, PAI should be suspected when the fractures involve the medial and posterior column.PAI is mainly in the segment P3, and artery rupture or severe contusion with extensive thrombosis may occur.

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The Impact of Computed Tomography on Decision Making in Tibial Plateau Fractures

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1627464 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (10) ◽

pp. 1007-1014 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marcello Castiglia ◽

Marcello Nogueira-Barbosa ◽

Andre Messias ◽

Rodrigo Salim ◽

Fabricio Fogagnolo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Decision Making ◽

Surgical Approach ◽

Tibial Plateau ◽

Classification Systems ◽

Tibial Plateau Fractures ◽

Surgical Approaches ◽

Plain Radiographs ◽

Schatzker Classification ◽

The Impact

AbstractSchatzker introduced one of the most used classification systems for tibial plateau fractures, based on plain radiographs. Computed tomography brought to attention the importance of coronal plane-oriented fractures. The goal of our study was to determine if the addition of computed tomography would affect the decision making of surgeons who usually use the Schatzker classification to assess tibial plateau fractures. Image studies of 70 patients who sustained tibial plateau fractures were uploaded to a dedicated homepage. Every patient was linked to a folder which contained two radiographic projections (anteroposterior and lateral), three interactive videos of computed tomography (axial, sagittal, and coronal), and eight pictures depicting tridimensional reconstructions of the tibial plateau. Ten attending orthopaedic surgeons, who were blinded to the cases, were granted access to the homepage and assessed each set of images in two different rounds, separated to each other by an interval of 2 weeks. Each case was evaluated in three steps, where surgeons had access, respectively to radiographs, two-dimensional videos of computed tomography, and three-dimensional reconstruction images. After every step, surgeons were asked to present how would they classify the case using the Schatzker system and which surgical approaches would be appropriate. We evaluated the inter- and intraobserver reliability of the Schatzker classification using the Kappa concordance coefficient, as well as the impact of computed tomography in the decision making regarding the surgical approach for each case, by using the chi-square test and likelihood ratio. The interobserver concordance kappa coefficients after each assessment step were, respectively, 0.58, 0.62, and 0.64. For the intraobserver analysis, the coefficients were, respectively, 0.76, 0.75, and 0.78. Computed tomography changed the surgical approach selection for the types II, V, and VI of Schatzker (p < 0.01). The addition of computed tomography scans to plain radiographs improved the interobserver reliability of Schatzker classification. Computed tomography had a statistically significant impact in the selection of surgical approaches for the lateral tibial plateau.

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