Highlights
- •Tibial plateau fractures are associated with accelerated knee joint degeneration.
- •The study investigates correlation between fracture characteristics and gait parameters.
- •Higher number of fracture fragments negatively correlates with velocity and cadence.
- •Affected limbs had shorter step length and single-limb support times.
Abstract
Background
Functional scores and radiographs are often used to assess function and predict development
of osteoarthritis in patients with multi-fragmentary tibial plateau fractures (TPFs).
Locomotion, which is the primary goal of fracture treatment, is rarely assessed. The
objective of this study was to assess functional ability of patients after TPF fixation
using spatio-temporal gait analysis (STGA), and to compare STGA variables with self-reported
functional scores and preoperative fracture characteristics.
Methods
Preoperative CT scans of 21 patients with complete articular multi-fragmentary TPFs
were evaluated for number of fragments, maximum gap between the fragments and maximum
articular depression. All patients underwent STGA (velocity, cadence, step length
of the affected and the unaffected leg, single-limb support by the affected and the
unaffected leg, and double-leg support) and filled the Knee Society Score and the
Short Form-12 questionnaires on average 3 years (SD = 1.56, range, 2–5.8) post-injury.
Findings
Step length and single-limb support time of the affected leg were shorter compared
to the unaffected leg (p = 0.02 and p = 0.007, respectively). Number of fracture fragments correlated with cadence (R = −0.461, p = 0.04) and velocity (R = −0.447, p = 0.04).
Interpretation
Given that both higher fracture comminution and deformity on the one hand and the
above gait parameter alterations on the other hand are associated with knee osteoarthritis,
STGA may be used for routine postoperative evaluation of patients after TPF fixation.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 15, 2019
Accepted:
April 14,
2019
Received:
March 28,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.