Articular fractures

Principles of management

Ram K Shah

Fractures Around Knee Joint:

Femur, Tibia, Patella.

Aims & objectives

- Pathophysiology of articular healing after fracture

- Indications for treatment

- Treatment principles

Anatomy of articular cartilage

- Articular cartilage:

- resilient

- elastic, avascular

- Composition:

- chondrocytes

- proteoglycan

- type II collagen

- water

- Roles:

- distribute forces evenly

- provide a frictionless surface to the joint

- shock absorber

Nutrition of articular cartilage

- Nutrition comes from synovial fluid

- Flow of synovial fluid requires motion and load

- To preserve injured articular cartilage: early motion and some load

Articular cartilage response to trauma

- Very sensitive to injury

- Poor healing potential

- Early mobilization enhances healing (Salter et al 1980)

- Anatomical reduction + interfragmentary compression + movement

= healing with hyaline cartilage

(Mitchell and Shepard 1980)

Clinical and experimental evidence—I

- Immobilization results in joint stiffness

- Immobilization of the articular fractures treated by ORIF (open

reduction and internal fixation) results in much greater stiffness

- Depressed osteochondral fragments which do not reduce by

closed manipulation and traction are impacted and will not reduce

by closed means

- Major depressions don’t fill with fibrocartilage, the

resulting instability is permanent

- Anatomical reduction and stable fixation of articular

fragments is necessary to restore joint congruency

- Metaphyseal defects must be filled with bone graft to

prevent articular redisplacement

Clinical and experimental evidence—II

- Metaphyseal and diaphyseal displacement must be reduced to

prevent joint overload

- Immediate motion is necessary to prevent joint stiffness and to

ensure articular cartilage healing and recovery, this requires stable

internal fixation

Clinical and experimental evidence—III

Options of treatment—decision factors

- Type of trauma - Magnitude of incongruency

- Age - Profession/leisure activities

- Affected joint - Goals of treatment

- Patient’s expectations

Principles of treatment

- Understand the injury

- Preoperative planning

- Timing

- Surgical approach

- Articular reduction

- Buttress of the metaphysis

- Postoperative care

Principles of treatment

Understand the injury:

- Evaluation of the soft tissues

- Adequate imaging: x-rays, CT, MRI

Principles of treatment

Preoperative planning:

- Positioning

- Approach

- Implant selection

- Reduction tactics

- Sequence of fixation

Principles of treatment

Primary: - Little edema, good skin, recent trauma

Primary deferred: -Traction or external fixator

- ORIF 1–2 weeks later

In 2 sessions: -Assembling of the articular surface +

transarticular external fixator

- Bridging internal/external fixation

Timing

Principles of treatment

Surgical approach:

- Soft- tissue condition

- The least traumatic possible

- Indirect reduction

- Arthroscopy, C-arm, percutaneous

1 year follow-up

C-arm Indirect reduction

Percutaneous fixation

Principles of treatment

Articular reduction:

- Interfragmentary compression

- Step-by-step K-wires

- Bone graft into the defects

- Gaps forgiving, step-offs dangerous

Principles of treatment

- Articular reduction

- Buttress of the metaphysis:

- Usually with a bridging or a buttress plate

Principles of treatment

Postoperative care:

- Pain-free active mobilization

- Isometrics in day 1

- Physiotherapist

- Limited weight bearing (15–20 K)

Types of fixation

Minimal osteosynthesis:

- K-wires, cannulated screws

- Buttress plate

- Hybrid external fixator

- Transarticular external fixator

32-year-old male

41-B3

Immediate

postoperative 1 year

follow-up

33-C2

33-year-old female, polytrauma, multiple fractures

Assembling of the joint surface

Bridging plate joining the condyles and diaphysis

7 months

31-year-old, male

41-C3

8 days

postoperative

First xRays

Tibial Condylar Fracture Treated by TRACTION

After Treatment

Evidence:

• Tibia: Conservative treatment is a valid option for fractures with minimal

displacement and surgical treatment is justified for severely displaced or

depressed fractures. Attention must be paid to the recognition and

restoration of joint stability and articular surface congruency for a

satisfactory outcome. (Med J Malaysia. 2005 Jul;60 Suppl C:83-90 )

• Femur: Regardless of treatment method, goals include restoration of

articular congruity, anatomical length, rotation, and axial alignment while

establishing adequate fixation to initiate early and unrestricted range of

motion.(J Knee Surg. 2007 Jan;20(1):56-66. )

• Calcaneum: The results of this 15-year follow-up of displaced intra-

articular calcaneal fracture randomised controlled trial were equivalent

between conservative and operative treatment and demonstrate similar

findings to those at one year follow-up. (Injury. 2007 Jul;38(7):848-55. Epub 2007

Apr 18. )

Take Home Message

- Intra-articular Condylar Fracture of Tibia & Femur requires accurate reduction and early joint motion for good anatomical and functional recovery.

- Conservative treatment with Traction or Hinged Brace is applied in selected patients for useful functional recovery.

- Undisplaced Burst Fracture Patella is treated conservatively.