Preoperative Plan with 3D Printing in Internal and External Fixation for Complex Tibial Plateau Fractures

Objective To compare short‐term treatment effects of internal and external fixation in the treatment of complicated tibial plateau fractures by preoperative planning with 3D printing. Methods Sixty‐nine patients with tibial plateau fractures were examined. 3D printing was used to establish the model in all patients before the operation. Thirty‐four patients were treated with an external fixator (9‐Schatzker Type V, 25‐Schatzker Type VI) and 35 patients were treated with internal fixation (12‐Schatzker Type V, 23‐Schatzker Type VI). The time span of the study was 2 years after the operation. All patients were followed up in the clinic of the attending physician who recorded patient follow‐up information at the same time. Finally, the Rasmussen functional score, radiographic parameters, complication rates, hospital days and operative parameters of the two groups were analyzed. Results The short‐term (within 2 years) Rasmussen score in the external fixation group was close to that of the internal fixation group; the differences were not significant (P > 0.05). The fractures were reduced adequately using both forms of surgical treatment. There is no significant difference between internal and external fixation in terms of radiographic parameters after 2 years (Mann–Whitney U‐tests, P > 0.05). Thrombosis was detected in 7 cases (2 external fixation, 5 internal fixation). Superficial infection was detected in 3 cases (1 external fixation, 2 internal fixation). Deep infection was detected in 3 cases (0 external fixation, 3 internal fixation). Knee stiffness was detected in 4 cases (2 external fixation, 2 internal fixation); 1 (2.7%) case of screw pullout occurred in the internal fixation group. The external fixation group had shorter operation times (172.94 ± 50.00 min vs 253.86 ± 64.59 min), less bleeding volume (395.88 ± 121.10 mL vs 864.29 ± 238.12 mL), and fewer days (17.03 ± 5.03 days vs 30.17 ± 8.64 days) of hospitalization compared to the internal fixation (t‐test, P = 0.00); subgroup analysis of all patients with complex tibial plateau fractures revealed that for patients with tibial plateau fracture type VI, the functional score of external fixation (26.79 ± 2.04) is better than that (25.54 ± 1.69) of internal fixation (t‐ test, P = 0.026) and the overall infection rate of external fixation is lower than that of internal fixation (χ2‐ test, P = 0.047). Conclusion Using 3D printed models in combination with external fixation has more advantages for short‐term treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures. In particular, relatively better functional recovery and lower rates of infection can be achieved for Schatzker type VI fractures. The external fixation treatment was preferred in cases of Schatzker VI tibial plateau fractures.