Epidemiological Aspects and Therapeutic Indications of Tibial Plateau Fractures in Adults: About 84 Cases Observed in Yaoundé

Background: Tibial plateau fractures are a frequent reason for hospital admissions in traumatology. Their incidence is on a rise because of the advent of motor cycles in correlation with the embryonic state of urbanisation in our country. Also, their management is not always adequate given our peculiar socio-economic context and the still frequent, resort to traditional bone settlers at the expense of codified conventional methods all these in a poor resource country with a health system whose technical facilities are not homogenous. Methodology: We carried out a descriptive ambispective cross sectional study over a period of 05 years at the Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Surgery wards of Yaoundé Central Hospital. Results: Our results are based on the evaluation of a sample of 84 patients. In our series, the mean age of injured patients was 46.2 years with a male predominance (sex ratio=1.8). Motor cycles accidents were the main aetiologies (69%). All the 80 patients who opted for surgery globally had good results (83.3% after a follow-up period of 28.5 months) as compared to the patients who received orthopaedic treatments which all presented poor functional results according to the IKSS (International Knee Society score) criteria. Patients with unstable incomes were four times more proned to have poor functional results following treatment and two times more proned to consult traditional bone settlers («Yanda»).Discussion: The epidemiological profile of the patients and the clinical and prognostic aspects corroborated with the few studies that have been carried out in Africa in the similar environmental conditions. Conclusion: We are convinced that this study will serve to ameliorate the therapeutic planning for this severe fracture with joint involvement, especially in our settings characterized by socio-economic difficulties and the still frequent resort to traditional bone settlers.