Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate patient-reported outcomes - symptoms, pain, activities of daily living (ADL), sports, and quality of life (QoL) - in patients with tibial plateau fractures. Outcomes were compared with those of age-matched peers from the general population to support patient counseling. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed including 1101 patients with tibial plateau fractures between 2003 and 2019. At mean follow-up of 6 ± 4 years, patients completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. Patients were grouped by age, treatment, and Schatzker classification. Summery Independent-Samples t-tests were used to compare patients KOOS values with age-related peers reference values. Descriptive statistics were used to report the proportion of patients who recovered within the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) range. RESULTS: Nonoperatively treated patients scored 5% lower than age-related peers for symptoms, pain and ADL. These differences did not exceed the MCID, and 68% of patients regained the level of age-related peers. Patients < 60 years scored 22% lower for sports and QoL, with 45% and 53% of patients recovering to peer levels. Operatively treated patients scored 14% lower compared to age-related peers for symptoms, pain and ADL, exceeding the MCID, and 53% of patients regained the level of peers. For sports and QoL, scores were 36% lower, with only 30%, and 39% of patients returning to peer levels. CONCLUSION: While most patients regain satisfactory function in daily activities after tibial plateau fractures, many-especially those treated operatively-do not return to pre-injury levels of sports and QoL. Our findings provide a guideline for managing patients' expectations among different age-groups. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III.