Treatment of Schatzker Type II and Type III Tibial Plateau Fractures With and Without the Use of Bone Graft

Abstract

Tibial plateau fractures involve a major weight-bearing joint. They occur due to a combination of axial loading and varus/valgus applied forces leading to articular depression, malalignment and an increased risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis1,2. Schatzker has defined lateral tibial plateau fractures type II as cleavage combined with depression: a lateral wedge is split in addition varying portions of the remaining lateral tibial plateau and articular surface are comminuted and depressed downwards into the metaphysis, while type III as pure central depression: the articular surface of the lateral plateau is depressed and driven into the lateral tibial condyle. There is no lateral wedge and the lateral cortex is intact3.