Treatment of Periarticular Fractures of the Knee Using the Less Invasive Stabilization System: A Retrospective Clinical Trial

Introduction Periarticular fractures of the knee in adults are generally treated with internal fixation. The Less Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) plate, developed by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osteosynthesefragen (AO)/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (ASIF) in the late 1990s, allows reduction and biological fixation through smaller incisions without violating periosteal blood supply. It offers several advantages for the treatment of complex periarticular fractures of the knee. In this study, we have aimed to report the results of a single series of these fractures. Materials and methods Forty-eight patients with AO type 33 and AO type 41 periarticular knee fractures who were operated between 2009 and 2014 at a single institution were included in this retrospective study. Patient demographics, fracture epidemiology, intraarticular extension, concomitant injuries, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, time to union, the average time from admission to surgery, and the mean time from operation to patient discharge were noted. The effect of patient and fracture-related factors on length of hospital stay were evaluated. Results The mean follow-up time was 23.7 (12-48) months. The average time from admission till surgery and from surgery till discharge was 10.2 (1-39) and 9.7 (2-35) days, respectively. The average time for union was 6.8 months. Femur fractures healed in mean 6.6 months whereas tibia fractures took 7.1 months to heal. Time from admission to surgery and postoperative hospital stay was longer in patients with higher ASA scores (p<0.01) and open fractures (p<0.001). Patients’ body mass index (BMI) and intraarticular extension of the fracture did not cause an increase in either preoperative or postoperative hospital stay (p>0.05). The presence of concomitant major injuries caused a delay in operation (p<0.05), whereas postoperative hospital stay was not different (p>0.05). Conclusion LISS plating provides good stability through a small incision, permits biological fracture healing, may be used in multifragmentary fractures and has low complication rates. It is a good alternative for the treatment of periarticular fractures of the knee.