Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
Abstract
Tibial plateau fractures are complex injuries that can significantly impact joint stability and functionality. This study compares the post‐surgical outcomes of two prevalent surgical interventions: Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) and External Fixation. This cross‐sectional study included 120 patients with tibial plateau fractures treated at a single tertiary care center. Patients were retrospectively divided into two groups based on the surgical intervention received‐60 patients underwent ORIF and 60 underwent External Fixation. We assessed functional outcomes (classified as excellent, good and poor), complication rates and recovery trajectories over a standardized follow‐up period. ORIF was associated with a higher rate of excellent functional outcomes (35% vs. 28.33%, P=0.047) and a lower incidence of poor outcomes (21.67% vs. 31.67%, P=0.045) compared to External Fixation. The ORIF group also showed a significantly lower infection rate (6.67% vs. 18.33%, P=0.032). Recovery time was shorter for patients who underwent ORIF (4.1±1.2 months) compared to those treated with External Fixation (4.8±1.5 months, P=0.037). No significant differences were noted in rates of hardware failure and re operations between the two groups. ORIF appears to offer superior functional outcomes and a faster recovery process with fewer complications compared to External Fixation in the management of tibial plateau fractures. These findings suggest that ORIF should be considered a favorable surgical option in suitable cases of tibial plateau fractures. However, individual patient factors and fracture characteristics must guide the choice of surgical intervention.
How to cite this article:
Sandeep Kumar Meela, Byshetty Raju and Ramakrishna Komati. A Cross‐Sectional Study of Post‐Surgical Outcomes in Tibial Plateau Fractures: ORIF vs. External Fixation.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.7.647.651
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.7.647.651