Comparison of cannulated lag screws and lateral locking plate in the treatment of Schatzker type II tibial plateau fractures

Objectives: This study aims to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of the two fixation methods frequently used in the treatment of Schatzker type II fractures: lag screw fixation and lateral anatomic plate fixation. Patients and methods: This retrospective study, which was conducted between January 2005 and December 2014, included 61 patients (41 males, 20 females: mean age 43.4 +/- 13.1 years; range, 20 to 76 years) with Schatzker type 11 (Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA)/Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen (AO) 41-B3) fractures. Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of surgery as cannulated lag screw fixation group (group 1, n=24, 39.4%) and lateral locking plate fixation group (group 2, n=37, 60.6%). Intraoperative mediolateral and anteroposterior instability were measured. Final knee flexion-extention range of motion (ROM), single-leg hop test. Knee Society Score (KSS), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and short form 36 (SF36) scores were obtained at the last follow-up. Results: The mean age of patients was 42.1 +/- 13.8 years in group 2 and 455 +/- 12.2 years in group 1. The mean follow-up period was 34 +/- 4 months. Minimal or no arthritis was detected in 75% (n=18) of patients in group 1 and 78% (n=29) of patients in group 2 (p=0.27). Single leg-hop test results (p=0.55), final follow-up knee ROM (p=0.40), KSS (p=0.21), HSS (p=0.15), and SF36 scores of group 1 were similar to group 2. In group 1. the duration of surgery was shorter (p