Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Orthop. Jul 18, 2017; 8(7): 574-587
Published online Jul 18, 2017. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v8.i7.574
Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteriaExclusion criteria
Acute tibial plateau fracturesExtra-articular proximal tibial fractures
Elite or recreational athletesStress fractures of the proximal tibial
Return rate to sporting activity reportedNo sporting outcome data reported
Return time to sporting activity reportedPaediatric fractures (age under 15)
Two or more fractures reportedReviews, case reports, abstracts or anecdotal articles
Peer-reviewed journalsAnimal, cadaver or in vitro studies
English language
Table 2 Conservatively managed fractures - only patients with follow-up data included
Ref.NStudy designMean follow-upTreatmentMode of injuryFracture typesReport of IA injuriesIA injury repairColeman scoreReturn rateReturn rate by treatment modalityReturn rate to same level of sportReturn time (range)Rate of unionTime to union (range)
Waldrop et al[18] (1988)3RCS59 moKnee immobilisationFalls RTA skiingPostero-lateral (undisplaced)YesYes693/3 (100%)Cons: 3/3 (100%)3/3 (100%)N/AN/AN/A
Table 3 Fractures treated by Open Reduction Internal Fixation - only patients with follow-up data included
Ref.nStudy designMean follow-upTreatmentMode ofinjuryFracture typesReport of IA injuriesIA injury repairColeman scoreReturn rateReturn rate bytreatment modalityReturn rate tosame level of sportReturn time (range)Rate of unionTime tounion (range)
Ahearn et al[12] (2014)21RCS40.5 moPF (21)Falls RTA pedestrianSchatzker VI BicondylarNoNot reported6214/21 (67%)PF: 14/21 (67%)4/21 (19%)N/A21/21 (100%)N/A
Brunner et al[19] (2009)5CS39 moPF (5)Skiing (4) Falls (1)Moore type IIYesYes615/5 (100%)PF: 5/5 (100%)N/AN/AN/AN/A
Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society[11] (2006)33RCT24 moPF (33)Falls RTA Pedestrian Sports Work CyclingSchatzker V and VIYesYes744/33 (12%)PF: 4/33 (12%)4/33 (12%)N/AN/AN/A
Chang et al[16] (2014)16PCS28.7 moPF (16)N/ASchatzker VI AO/OTA C2-3YesYes6614/16 (88%)PF: 14/16 (88%)14/16 (88%)N/A16/16 (100%)20.2 wk
Keogh et al[13] (1992)13RCS17 moPSF (13)RTA (5) Falls (5) Work (2) Sport (1)Schatzker I-VINoNot reported4511/13 (85%)PSF: 11/13 (85%)N/AN/AN/AN/A
Morin et al[14] (2016)15PCS18.2 moSF (15)Skiing (15)Postero-Medial Moore Type IYesYes7313/15 (87%)SF: 13/15 (87%)0/15 (0%)N/AN/AN/A
Stevens et al[17] (2001)46RCS100 moPF (46)RTA (13) Pedestrian (13) Falls (9) Sports (6) Work (2)Schatzker I-VIYesYes7021/46 (46%)PF: 21/46 (46%)6/46 (13%)N/A46/46 (100%)N/A
van Dreumel et al[15] (2015)26RCS74 moSF PFFalls (57%) RTA (25%) Other (14%)Schatzker I-VI AO/OTA B1-C3NoNot reported7915/26 (58%)SF: N/A PF: N/A15/26 (58%)6.9 (2-18) mo (median)N/AN/A
Waldrop et al[18] (1988)3RCS59 moPF (6) ORBG (12)Falls RTA SkiingPostero-Lateral (displaced)YesYes6918/18 (100%)PF: 6/6 (100%) ORBG: 12/12 (100%)17/18 (100%)N/AN/AN/A
Table 4 Fractures treated by Arthroscopic-Assisted Reduction and Internal Fixation - Only patients with follow-up data included
Ref.nStudy designMean follow-upTreatmentMode of injuryFracture typesReport of IA injuriesIA injury repairColeman scoreReturn rateReturn rate by treatment modalityReturn rate to same level of sportReturn time (range)Rate of unionTime to union (range)
Chan et al[26] (2003)18PCS48 moAPF (18)RTA (17) Falls (1)Schatzker V and VIYesYes6813/18 (72%)APF: 13/18 (72%)13/18 (72%)N/AN/AN/A
Chan et al[25] (2008)54PCS87 moAPF (54)RTA (50) Falls (4)Schatzker I-VIYesYes8048/54 (89%)APF: 48/54 (89%)48/54 (89%)N/A54/54 (100%)N/A
Chiu et al[34] (2013)25RCS86 moAPF (25)N/ASchatzker IV-VIYesYes7322/25 (88%)APF: 22/25 (88%)22/25 (88%)N/A25/25 (100%)N/A
Duan et al[29] (2008)39RCS34 moAPSF (37)RTA (19) Falls (11) Sports (9)Schatzker I-VYesYes5730/39 (77%)APSF: 30/39 (77%)30/39 (77%)N/A39/39 (100%)12 (11-14) wk
Gill et al[28] (2001)25PCS24 moAPSF (25)Skiing (25)Schatzker I-IVYesYes7921/25 (84%)APSF: 21/25 (84%)21/25 (84%)N/AN/AN/A
Guanche et al[31] (1993)5CSN/AAPSF (5)N/ASchatzker I-IIINoNot reported555/5 (100%)APSF: 5/5 (100%)5/5 (100%)N/A5/5 (100%)N/A
Holzach et al[30] (1994)15PCS35.3 moAPSF (10)Skiing (15)AO/OTA B2.2 and B3.1YesYes7613/15 (87%)APSF: 13/15 (87%)13/15 (87%)N/AN/AN/A
Hung et al[32] (2003)31PCS36 moAPF (31)RTA (30) Falls (1)Schatzker I-VIYesYes7626/31 (84%)APF: 26/31 (84%)26/31 (84%)N/A31/31 (100%)12 (11-14) wk
Itokazu et al[24] (1996)16RCS30 moAPSF (5) ACF (7) APF (4)N/AHohl II and IIIYesYes4916/16 (100%)APSF: 5/5 (100%) ACF: 7/7 (100%) APF: 4/4 (100%)16/16 (100%)N/A16/16 (100%)N/A
Kampa et al[27] (2016)20RCS30 moAPSF (20)Falls (52%) Sport (48%)Schatzker I-IIIYesYes7110/20 (50%)APSF: 10/20 (50%)10/20 (50%)N/A20/20 (100%)N/A
Pizanis et al[33] (2012)5CS24 moAPF (5)N/AAO/OTA B2 and B3NoNot reported615/5 (100%)APF: 5/5 (100%)5/5 (100%)N/AN/AN/A
Table 5 Fractures treated by frame application - only patients with follow-up data included
Ref.nStudy designMean follow-upTreatmentMode of injuryFracture typesReport of IA injuriesIA injury repairColeman scoreReturn rateReturn rate by treatment modalityReturn rate to same level of sportReturn time (range)Rate of unionTime to union (range)
Ahearn et al[12] (2014)15RCS41 moFrame and IF (15) Non-Bridging Frames (15)Falls RTA PedestrianSchatzker VI (Bicondylar)NoNot reported6211/15 (73%)Frame and IF: 11/15 (73%)3/15 (20%)N/A15/15 (100%)N/A
Chin et al[20] (2005)18RCS28 moFrame and IF (16) Arthro Frame (2) Bridging Frames (3) Non-Bridging Frames (15)RTA Pedestrian Falls Skiing CyclingSchatzker V and VINoNot reported6115/18 (83%)Frame and IF: N/A Arthro Frame: N/A7/18 (39%)N/A15/18 (83%)14 (11-22) wk
Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society[11] (2006)33RCT24 moFrame and IF (33) Bridging Frames (4) Non-Bridging Frames (29)Falls RTA Pedestrian Sports Work CyclingSchatzker V and VIYesYes7410/33 (30%)Frame and IF: 10/33 (30%)10/33 (30%)N/AN/AN/A
Itokazu et al[24] (1996)1RCS30 moArthro Frame (1) Non-Bridging Frame (1)N/AHohl II and IIIYesYes491/1 (100%)Arthro Frame: 1/1 (100%)1/1 (100%)N/A1/1 (100%)N/A
Katsenis et al[21] (2005)46RCS38 moFrame and IF (46) Bridging Frames (30) Non-Bridging Frames (16)RTA FallsSchatzker V and VI AO/OTA C1-3YesNot reported7225/46 (54%)Frame and IF: 25/46 (54%)N/AN/A45/46 (98%)13.5 (11-18) wk
Katsenis et al[22] (2009)127RCS60 mo (minimum)Frame and IF (127) Bridging and Non-Bridging Frames (127)RTA (96) Falls (29) Sports (2)AO/OTA C1-3YesNot reported6868/127 (54%)Frame and IF: 68/127 (54%)N/AN/A126/127 (99%)13.7 (10-20) wk
Weigel et al[23] (2002)22RCS98 moFrame and IF (22) Non-Bridging Frames (22)RTA (16) Fall (3) Pedestrian (2) Assault (1) Sport (1) Crush (1)Schatzker II, IV, V and VI AO/OTA C1-3NoNot reported547/22 (32%)Frame and IF: 7/22 (32%)N/AN/AN/AN/A
Table 6 Surgical cohorts with combined outcome data - only patients with follow-up data included
Ref.nStudy designMean follow-upTreatmentMode of injuryFracture typesReport of IA injuriesIA injury repairColeman scoreReturn rateReturn rate by treatment modalityReturn rate to same level of sportReturn time (range)Rate of unionTime to union (range)
Kraus et al[36] (2012)79RCS53 moPF PSF APSFSports (54%) RTA (20%) Falls (18%)Schatzker I-VI AO/OTA A2-C3YesYes4765/79 (82%)ORIF: N/A PSF: N/A APSF: N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Loibl et al[37] (2013)92RCS94 moPF PSF ARSFSkiing (92)AO/OTA B1-C3NoNot reported5581/92 (88%)ORIF: N/A PSF: N/A APSF: N/A57/92 (62%)N/AN/AN/A
Scheerlinck et al[35] (1998)38RCS62 moAPSF (30) Arthro Frame (2) Arthro Frame and IF (6)N/AAO/OTA B1-C3YesYes6832/38 (84%)APSF: N/A Arthro Frame: N/A Arthro Frame and IF: N/A24/38 (63%)N/AN/AN/A
Table 7 Summary of the return times to sport, return rates to sport, times to union and rates of union by treatment modality
Mode of treatmentn (total)Return rates to sportReturn times to sportReturn rate to pre-injury levelRates of unionMean times to union
All[11-37]920642/920 (70%)[11-37]6.9 mo (median)[15]374/628 (60%)[11,12,14-18,20,24-35,37]475/480 (99%)[12,16,17,20-22,24-27,29,31,34]13.6 wk[16,20-22,29,32]
Non-surgical[18]33/3 (100%)[18]N/A3/3 (100%)[18]N/AN/A
Surgical[11-37]917639/917 (70%)[11-37]6.9 mo (median)[15]371/625 (59%)[11,12,14-18,20,24-35,37]475/480 (99%)[12,16,17,20-22,24-27,29,31,34]13.6 wk[16,20-22,29,32]
Surgical
ORIF[11-19]193115/193 (60%)[11-19]6.9 mo (median)[15]60/175 (34%)[11,12,14-18]83/83 (100%)[12,16,17]20.2 wk[16]
ARIF[24-34]253209/253 (83%)[24-34]N/A209/253 (83%)[24-34]190/190 (100%)[24-27,29,31,34]12.0 wk[29,32]
FRAME[11,12,20-24]262137/262 (52%)[11,12,20-24]N/A21/67 (31%)[11,12,20,24]202/207 (98%)[12,20-22,24]13.7 wk[20-22]
Non-specific surgical cohort[35-37]209178/209 (85%)[35-37]N/A81/130 (62%)[35,37]N/AN/A