Description
The presentation delivered by Tim White discusses advancements in the field of tibial plateau fractures, reflecting on personal experiences gained since his appointment as a consultant. It begins by highlighting the necessity of regaining coronal alignment, achieving joint surface reduction, and ensuring stability for early patient mobilization to prevent stiffness. Tim emphasizes the importance of techniques tailored to specific fracture types, particularly in elderly patients with deteriorated bone quality.
In the main part of the talk, he shares a detailed surgical approach that mimics accessing the internals of an aircraft carrier, demonstrating the use of a minimal incision and percutaneous elevation to treat lateral split depression type fractures. White provides visual support through videos, showcasing the procedure's intricacies, including the elevation of depressed segments and securing them with screws and calcium phosphate paste.
He also addresses more complex fractures, employing innovative grafting techniques and mentioning past complications encountered with traditional methods in older patients. The use of an allograft femoral head for support in medial plateau fractures is introduced as a preferred modern approach.
Finally, Tim White discusses posterior column fractures, highlighting a novel surgical access method that simplifies the management of these complex injuries. Throughout, he shares insights on outcomes, indicating that while the rate of salvage is generally low, familiarity and frequency with surgical techniques can enhance patient recovery, reinforcing a patient-centric focus and encouraging continued improvement post-surgery.