Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39774982›Full record

ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2025

Fracture characteristics and functional outcomes for Schatzker V/VI bicondylar tibial plateau fractures with a separate tubercle fragment: a comparative study.

Derek S Stenquist, Tyler D Caton, Eric Y Chen, Faith Selzer, Mitchel B Harris, Marilyn Heng, Michael J Weaver, Arvind G Von Keudell

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Factors influencing patient-reported outcomes in operatively managed tibial plateau fractures.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Derek S StenquistHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA. dstenquist@mgh.harvard.edu.
Tyler D CatonHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.
Eric Y ChenHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.
Faith SelzerDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Mitchel B HarrisHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.
Marilyn HengHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael J WeaverHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.
Arvind G Von KeudellHarvard Medical School Orthopedic Trauma Initiative, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionA separate tibial tubercle fragment (TF) is found in up to half of all bicondylar tibial plateau (BTP) fractures. Adequate healing of the TF is required to reconstitute the extensor mechanism of the knee. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes after surgical fixation of BTP fractures with and without a TF. MATERIALS AND

methodsRetrospective comparative study of adult patients undergoing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of a Schatzker V/VI BTP fracture at two Level 1 trauma centers. Primary outcomes were patient-reported outcomes as assessed by the PROMIS Physical Function (PF) score and EQ-5D-3L. Secondary outcomes included rates of infection, reoperation, and nonunion. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and outcomes were compared for patients with and without a TF.

results189 patients (mean follow-up 8.1 yrs) were included. 55 patients (29%) had a separate TF. There was no significant difference in PROMIS PF (48.1 vs 47.5, p = 0.45) or EQ-5D-3L scores (0.82 vs 0.83, p = 0.32) between patients with and without a separate tubercle fragment.Patients with a TF had more open fractures (16% vs 5%, p = 0.02) and high energy injuries (66% vs 49%, p = 0.03).There was no significant difference in the rates of deep infection (15% vs 8%, p = 0.19) or unplanned reoperation (23% vs 13%, p = 0.09). There were more nonunions in the TF group (11% vs 2%, p = 0.02) but only two involved the tubercle fragment.

conclusionIn this comparative study, the presence of a TF did not portend a worse functional outcome for patients with a healed fracture. Rates of open fracture and high energy mechanism of injury were significantly higher in the TF group.. Surgeons should be aware that a separate TF may indicate a more severe injury. More studies are needed to determine whether the presence of a TF is associated with higher complication rates.

Indexed as

Fracture Fixation, InternalTibial FracturesAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOpen Fracture ReductionPatient Reported Outcome MeasuresReoperationRetrospective StudiesTibial Plateau FracturesTreatment OutcomeBicondylarOutcomesTibial plateau fractureTibial tubercle fragment

Identifiers

PMID39774982

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.