SUMMARY
The best approach for treating posterolateral tibial plateau fractures remains controversial. Between January 2009 and July 2012, twelve patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fracture were treated using the fibular osteotomy approach with a proximal tibia locking compression plate. Clinical outcomes during 25.6 ± 2.1 months (range 22-38 months) follow-up were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The average surgical duration was 92.5 ± 14.5 min (range 83–107 min). An anatomic reduction rate of 91.7 % (11/12) was observed although one patient with a lateral comminuted fracture and dislocation presented a 2-mm joint surface depression postoperatively. The average fracture healing time was 11.6 ± 3.1 weeks (range 8-15 weeks), with an average hospital for special surgery knee score of 94.1 ± 3.2 points (range 80-100 points), an average knee flexion of 118.6° ± 18.1° (range 96°-138°) and an average knee extension of 1.9° ± 2.2° (range 0°-6.3°). No complications were found. The fibular osteotomy approach with a proximal tibial compression plate can attain a satisfactory clinical outcome for patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures.