Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2015, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (5): 497-501.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2015.05.001

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Surgical exposure to posterolateral quadrant tibial plateau fractures: an anatomic comparison of posterolateral vs posteromedial approaches

HU Sun-jun1,ZHANG Shi-min1,ZHANG Ying-qi1,DU Shou-chao1,MA Zhuo1, YAO Meng-wei1, ZHANG Kai2   

  1. 1.Department of Orthopaedics,Yangpu Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China; 2. Department of Anatomy, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Received:2014-12-31 Online:2015-09-25 Published:2015-10-13

Abstract:

Objective To compare deep anatomical structures of posterolateral and posteromedial approaches, andanalyze the limitations and risk of injury to important structures during surgical dissection.Method Five lower limb specimens were dissected to measure the perforating level of the anterior tibial artery at the interosseous membrane fissure and the shielding percentage by fibular head to the posterolateral cortex. Clinically, 20 cases were treated via a posterolateralor posteromedial approach. The two approaches were compared with each other.  Result The posterolateral approach had three major disadvantages:(1) the width of the anterior vascular bundle was about 1 cm; the distance between the level ofthe anterior tibial artery perforating point and tibial plateau/superior tip of fibular head was 4.93 cm and 3.77 cm, respectively. The distance for the superior concomitant vein was 4.41 cm and 3.25 cm in average, respectively, which limit the incision exposure. (2) The percentage of the posterolateral cortical area shielded by fibular head was 61.7% in average. (3) In order to expose the posterolateral articular surface, partial structure of posterolateral corner was destroyed, including the popliteus tendon complex, ligament and joint capsule, etc. Conclusion A posteromedial approach via the medial head of gastrocnemius-soleus maybe more suitable to expose isolated posterolateral quadrant tibial plateau fracture.

Key words: Tibial plateau, Fracture, Posteromedial approach, Posterolateral approach, Applied anatomy