Tibial plateau fractures are associated with a long-lasting increased risk of total knee arthroplasty a matched cohort study of 7,950 tibial plateau fractures.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the risk of total knee replacement (TKR) following tibia plateau fractures. Secondary the study aims to investigate the risk of knee arthroscopy following tibial plateau fractures.

METHOD: The study was designed as a matched cohort study. All patients who sustained a tibial plateau fracture in Denmark between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2000, were included and followed until December 31, 2015. For each patient with a tibial plateau fracture, 10 matched citizens without a tibial plateau fracture were included as a reference group.

RESULTS: 7,950 patients sustained a tibial plateau fracture in Denmark during the study period. The median age of patients was 52.6 (IQR: 32.4-71.5) years. The mean observational period was 13.9 years. 5.7% were treated with a TKR (N = 452), and 2.0% of patients from the reference group were treated with a TKR (N = 1,623). Patients with a tibial plateau fracture had a 3.5 (95%CI: 3.1-3.9) times higher hazard ratio (HR) compared to patients from the reference group. 7.6% of patients with a tibial plateau fracture were treated with a secondary knee arthroscopy (N = 603) and 2.0% of patients from the reference group were treated with a knee arthroscopy (N = 1,565). Patients with a tibial plateau fracture presented with a 5.0 (95%CI: 4.5-5.6)) times higher HR compared to patients in the reference group.

CONCLUSIONS: Tibial plateau fractures are associated with a 3.5 times increased risk of TKR compared with an age- and gender-matched reference group with a mean follow-up of 13.9 years.