Background: Bicondylar tibial plateau fractures stand as severe injuries that need surgical intervention. They are often linked to elevated complication rates as well as suboptimal clinical outcomes.
Objectives: To compare ilizarov external fixation and ORIF with plates and screws in treating bicondylar tibial plateau fractures, regarding alignment, stability, complications, and early weight-bearing.
Patients and methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial involved 20 patients aged 20-60 with Schatzker types V and VI tibial plateau fractures. Patients were divided equally into two groups: the open reduction and internal fixation group and the ilizarov group. Outcomes such as limb alignment, joint stability, and complications were assessed, with statistical analysis using SPSS.
Results: 20 patients with good functional outcomes by knee society scoring system. Arthritis occurred in 4 cases (40%) in open reduction as well as internal fixation group and 5 patients (50%) in ilizarov group in open reduction as well as internal fixation group 6 cases (60%) did not develop infection, and four patients (40%) had deep infection while in ilizarov group four patients (40%) had no infection and six patients (60%) had pin track infection. In the open reduction as well as internal fixation group six patients (60%) had good union and four patients (40%) had delayed union while in ilizarov group nine patients (90%) had good union and only one patient (10%) had malunion.
Conclusion: ilizarov technique facilitated a shorter duration of definitive surgery, less soft tissue dissection, reduced hospitalization, sooner weight-bearing, accelerated healing, as well as decreased overall problems.