Arthroscopic reduction and fixation in the treatment the avulsion fracture of the tibial eminence using non-absorbable sutures

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of arthroscopic reduction and fixation in the treatment the avulsion fracture of the tibial eminence using non-absorbable sutures. MethodsA total of 15 patients with the avulsion fracture of the tibial eminence were subjected to non-absorbable suture fixation under arthroscopy. All the patients had unilateral knees, including5 left knees and 10 right knees. Based on Meyers-McKeever classification, there were type Ⅱ for 1 patient, type Ⅲ for 9 patients and type Ⅳ for 5 patients. With the guide of tibial positioner of the anterior cruciate ligament, the avulsion fracture of the tibial eminence was reduced and fixed using non-absorbable sutures under knee arthroscopy. ResultsAll the patients were followed up for 2 to 27.5 months. All incisions were healed within Phrase 1 without complications like infection, dislocation, joint stiffness and thrombosis in lower limb deep veins. The X-ray films showed fracture healing within 6-12 weeks (on the average of 7.8 weeks). At the last follow-up, 14 patients showed normal activity of the knee joints without extension disorder, and impingement of intercondylar fossa, whose range of motion of the knee joint was 0°-125°, in addition to negative results were found in the Lachman test. Only 1 patient reported limited range of motion of the knee joint (0°-90°), in addition to suspicious positive results in the Lachman test. The results of anterior drawer tests were negative for all patients. At the last follow-up visit, the Lysholm score was 94.33±5.46, which was significant different from the preoperative one (47.67±16.69, P＜0.01). The International Knee Documentation Committee Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC) score was 93.49 ±7.56, which was significant different from the preoperative one (19.54±8.06, P＜0.01). ConclusionsArthroscopic reduction and fixation can produce good efficacy for treatment of the avulsion fractureof the tibial eminence using non-absorbable sutures, with less surgical incision and fast postoperative recovery.