An old unicondylar tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker type III) with tibial shaft fracture: A case report

INTRODUCTION: and importance: Unicondylar tibial plateau fractures with tibial shaft fractures are extremely rare among the elderly group of people. The traditional treatment method is to apply double plates to fix unicondylar tibial plateau fractures combined with tibial shaft fractures respectively, but this fixation method can disrupt the blood supply around the soft tissues and increase the rate of postoperative infection and fracture non-union. In this paper, we would analyse an old unicondylar tibial plateau fracture (Schatzker type III) with tibial shaft fracture which admitted to our department and discussed the efficacy of using intramedullary nails and plates in the treatment of these fractures. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old woman with an old unicondylar tibial plateau fracture combined with tibial shaft fracture was presented in this case. Using an intramedullary nail combined with a plate to achieve good results. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: This case represents a rare case of an unicondylar tibial plateau fracture with a tibial shaft fracture. In this case, the tibial plateau fracture was first incised and internally fixed with a 9-hole plate across the fracture line of the tibial shaft, followed by fixing the tibial shaft fracture with an intramedullary nail. This treatment helped us successfully reset the unicondylar tibial plateau fracture with tibial shaft fracture and provided a satisfactory outcome for the patient. CONCLUSION: Using intramedullary nails combined with plates to treat unicondylar tibial plateau fractures with tibial shaft fractures allowed for a predictable healing result.