Costs and Complications of Single Stage Fixation Versus Two-Stage Treatment of Select Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the differences in costs and complications in patients with bicondylar tibial plateau (BTP) fractures treated with one stage definitive fixation compared to two stage fixation following initial spanning external fixation.

Design: Retrospective cohort study

Setting: Level one trauma center

Patients/Participants: Patients with OTA 41-C (Schatzker 6) treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).

Intervention: Definitive treatment with ORIF either acutely (one stage) or delayed following initial spanning external fixation (two stage).

Main Outcome Measures: Wound healing complications, implant costs, hospital charges, PROMIS outcome measures.

Results: 105 patients were identified over a three-year period, of which 52 met inclusion criteria. There were 28 patients in the One-Stage group and 24 patients in the Two-Stage group. Mean follow-up was 21.8 months, and 87% of patients had at least 12 months follow-up. The mean number of days to definitive fixation was 1.2 in the One-Stage group and 7.8 in the Two-Stage group. There were no differences between groups with respect to wound healing or any other surgery-related complications. Functional outcomes (PROMIS) were similar between groups. Mean implant cost in the Two-Stage group was $10,821 greater than the One-Stage group, mostly due to the costs of external fixation. Median hospital inpatient charges in the Two-Stage group exceeded the One-Stage group by over $68,000 for all BTP fractures and by $61,000 for isolated BTP fractures. Conclusions: Early single stage treatment of BTP fractures is cost effective, and is not associated with a higher complication rate than two stage treatment in appropriately selected patients.

Level of Evidence: Level III- Retrospective cohort study