J Korean Fract Soc.  2007 Oct;20(4):302-308. 10.12671/jkfs.2007.20.4.302.

Evaluation of the Patterns of Fractures and the Soft Tissue Injury Using MRI in Tibial Plateau Fractures

• Chun JY
• Park HG
• Hwang SS

• KMID: 2297510
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2007.20.4.302

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare information about fracture type in MRI with simple radiograph in tibial plateau fractures and evaluate tibial plateau fractures type and accompanying soft tissue injury, and evaluate usefulness of MRI in tibial plateau fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Compared MRI with simple radiograph about Schatzker classification, depression of articular surface and displacement of bone fragment from the 68 examples who checked MRI and we evaluated soft tissue injury around knee joint.
RESULTS
There were 7 examples of Schatzker type change after MRI check. Average depression of articular surface in simple radiograph was 2.93 mm and 4.28 mm in MRI. It increased by 1.35 mm and it was meaningful statistically (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between MRI and simple radiograph of displaced bone fragment (p=0.168). There were 58 (85.3%) cases of soft tissue injury in MRI.
CONCLUSION
MRI can find additional fracture line or articular depression that can't be found in simple radiograph and gives more information about articular depression and soft tissue that is useful in surgical plans. I think preoperative MRI is necessary to better treatment of fracture & treatment of periarticular soft tissue injury in tibial plateau fracture.

Keyword

Tibial plateau fractures; MRI; Schatzker classification

MeSH Terms

Classification
Depression
Knee Joint
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Soft Tissue Injuries*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Plain X-ray doesn't reveal fracture lines. (B) MRI reveals new fracture lines (pure cleavage fracture).

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  Fig. 2 (A) The fracture type is classified to Schatzker-II (cleavage combine with depression) by Plain X-ray. (B) MRI reveals new fracture line of medial condyle and fracture type is reclassified into Schatzker-V.

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  Fig. 3 This fracture can't be classified by schatzker classification.

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