TY - JOUR
T1 - Elective removal of implants after open reduction and internal fixation of Tibial Plateau fractures improves clinical outcomes
AU - Garner, Matthew R.
AU - Thacher, Ryan R.
AU - Ni, Amelia
AU - Berkes, Marschall B.
AU - Lorich, Dean G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
PY - 2015/11/1
Y1 - 2015/11/1
N2 - Introduction: Tibial plateau fractures are common injuries often treated with open reduction and internal fixation. We have noted improved patient satisfaction following implant removal for these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of removal of surgical implants after union on patient reported outcomes. Materials and methods: All patients at our Level 1 Trauma Center undergoing open reduction an internal fixation by the senior surgeon are offered enrollment into a prospective registry and have clinical outcomes recorded at follow-up [Knee Outcomes Survey (KOS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Short Form-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary (SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS), and Visual analog pain scale (VAS)]. Routinely, removal of surgical implants is offered after fracture union resulting in two cohorts: those who had undergone elective removal of surgical implants and those who had not. Outcome scores were compared before and after implant removal as well as between the two study populations at final follow-up. Results: Seventy-five patients were identified as having 12 month outcome scores: 36 (48 %) had retained implants; 39 (52 %) had implants removed. KOS and LEFS outcomes improved significantly after implant removal (p < 0.05). Clinical outcomes (KOS, SF-36 PCS) were also significantly better in patients who had implants removed compared to those that did not at final follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference seen in VAS pain scores. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that patients who have elective removal of their surgical implants after open reduction and internal fixation of a tibial plateau fracture have improved clinical outcomes after removal and also demonstrate significantly better outcomes than those who have retained implants at final follow-up. Patients who are unhappy with their clinical result should be counseled that removal of the implant may improve function, but may not improve pain.
AB - Introduction: Tibial plateau fractures are common injuries often treated with open reduction and internal fixation. We have noted improved patient satisfaction following implant removal for these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of removal of surgical implants after union on patient reported outcomes. Materials and methods: All patients at our Level 1 Trauma Center undergoing open reduction an internal fixation by the senior surgeon are offered enrollment into a prospective registry and have clinical outcomes recorded at follow-up [Knee Outcomes Survey (KOS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Short Form-36 Physical and Mental Component Summary (SF-36 PCS, SF-36 MCS), and Visual analog pain scale (VAS)]. Routinely, removal of surgical implants is offered after fracture union resulting in two cohorts: those who had undergone elective removal of surgical implants and those who had not. Outcome scores were compared before and after implant removal as well as between the two study populations at final follow-up. Results: Seventy-five patients were identified as having 12 month outcome scores: 36 (48 %) had retained implants; 39 (52 %) had implants removed. KOS and LEFS outcomes improved significantly after implant removal (p < 0.05). Clinical outcomes (KOS, SF-36 PCS) were also significantly better in patients who had implants removed compared to those that did not at final follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference seen in VAS pain scores. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that patients who have elective removal of their surgical implants after open reduction and internal fixation of a tibial plateau fracture have improved clinical outcomes after removal and also demonstrate significantly better outcomes than those who have retained implants at final follow-up. Patients who are unhappy with their clinical result should be counseled that removal of the implant may improve function, but may not improve pain.
KW - Clinical outcomes
KW - Implant removal
KW - Removal of hardware
KW - Tibial plateau fracture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84945436958&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00402-015-2299-2
DO - 10.1007/s00402-015-2299-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 26264713
AN - SCOPUS:84945436958
SN - 0936-8051
VL - 135
SP - 1491
EP - 1496
JO - Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
JF - Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
IS - 11
ER -