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Comminuted bicondylar tibial plateau fractures can be successfully treated with open reduction and medial and lateral plate fixation using 2 incisions. Dysvascular limbs requiring vascular repair are at increased risk for deep sepsis. The use of 2 incisions, temporary spanning external fixation, and proper soft-tissue handling may contribute to a lower wound complication rate than previously reported.

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The authors are presenting a new subtalar fusion technique for late complications of calcaneus fractures. These complications include pain, shoe wear difficulties, and foot deformity. The complex pathology includes incongruous subtalar joint, loss of calcaneal body height, and decreased lateral talocalcaneal angle. The latter two factors can result in tibiotalar neck impingement, a deformity that has received little attention in the literature. The subtalar fusion technique involves distraction of the subtalar joint, insertion of a bone block, and rigid screw fixation. The distraction allows correction of the talocalcaneal relationship and regains lost hindfoot height. The clinical series involved 16 feet with an average follow-up of 19 months. Results were satisfactory in 13 feet. Pre- and postoperative radiographic analysis for tibiotalar impingement, lateral talocalcaneal angle, and talonavicular subluxation was performed, with improvement to a normal range seen in the cases analyzed. The results are encouraging but should be considered preliminary based on the length of follow-up.

Medial and lateral plate stabilization of comminuted bicondylar tibial plateau fractures through medial and lateral surgical approaches is a useful treatment method; however, residual dysfunction is common. Accurate articular reduction was possible in about half of our patients and was associated with better outcomes within the confines of the injury severity.

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Coronal plane fractures frequently occurred in association with high-energy supracondylar-intercondylar distal femoral fractures; in the present study, the prevalence of associated coronal plane fractures was 38%. The lateral condyle was involved more frequently than the medial condyle was. Coronal plane fractures of both condyles were observed commonly, and the majority of coronal plane fractures were associated with open wounds. Since the surgical tactic for the treatment of a supracondylar-intercondylar distal femoral fracture may be altered by the additional diagnosis of a coronal plane fracture component, preoperative computerized tomographic scanning of the injured distal part of the femur, particularly when there is an associated open wound, is strongly recommended.