Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40211388›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research2025

Lateral epicondyle osteotomy results in improved radiologic and functional outcomes in severe lateral tibial plateau fractures: a retrospective cohort study.

Hendrik Fahlbusch, P Behrendt, A Becker, C Arras, H Gablac, J Frings, M Hoffmann, M Krause, K H Frosch

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

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

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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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.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Hendrik FahlbuschDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. HendrikFahlbusch@gmail.com.
P BehrendtDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
A BeckerDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
C ArrasDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
H GablacDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sportsorthopedics, Asklepios St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.
J FringsDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
M HoffmannDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sportsorthopedics, Asklepios St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.
M KrauseDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
K H FroschDepartment of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of lateral tibial plateau fractures involving the central and postero-lateral regions, comparing an extended lateral approach with lateral epicondyle osteotomy (ECO) to a conventional approach without an extention (No-ECO).

methodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted at two centers, examining complex lateral tibial plateau fractures treated with either an extended lateral approach with ECO or without it. Only AO/OTA type B3/C3 fractures involving the antero-latero-central (ALC) and postero-latero-central (PLC) segments were included. Fracture reduction quality was assessed via post-operative CT scans, and clinical outcomes and complications were evaluated over a minimum of 24-month follow-up.

resultsA total of 110 patients (mean age: 51.3 ± 11.1 years) were included, with an average follow-up of 52.7 ± 16.9 months. The ECO group (n = 56) consisted of more severe injuries, indicated by higher external fixator use (48.2% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.0044) and additional affected segments. Postoperative CT scans revealed that the ECO group had significantly less fracture step-off (0.8 mm vs. 3.0 mm, p = 0.0002) and angulation at the ALC/PLC (8.1° vs. 20.1°, p = 0.0002) segment and PLC/PLL (postero-latero-lateral) (2.2° vs. 7.5°, p = 0.02) segments. Clinically, the ECO group achieved superior IKDC scores (71.7 vs. 63.7, p = 0.0097). A negative correlation was found between postoperative ALC/PLC depression and IKDC scores (r=-0.36, p = 0.0002).

conclusionPatients treated with ECO had a significantly better clinical and radiologic postoperative outcomes, with the quality of fracture reduction positively correlating with the clinical IKDC score. This was achieved despite more severe injuries, as indicated by higher external fixator use and number of affected segments. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III Retrospective Cohort Study.

trial registrationThe study was retrospectively registered and conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local Ethics Committee (PV7319).

Indexed as

OsteotomyTibial FracturesAdultAgedCohort StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTibial Plateau FracturesTomography, X-Ray ComputedTreatment Outcome10-Segment classificationEpicondyleExtended lateral approachOsteotomyTibial head fracture

Identifiers

PMID40211388
PMCPMC11983902

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