Seven hundred and twenty-six tibial condylar fractures have been analyzed, with follow-up studies from two to thirteen years in 227 cases.
Conservative treatment is indicated in undisplaced fractures, local-depression fractures with displacement of less than one centimeter, and split fractures with displacement of less than one-half centimeter. Manipulation under anaesthesia with traction is indicated in total-depression fractures and in split fractures with shattering of the upper tibial
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surface. Open reduction is indicated in local-depression fractures displaced than one centimeter, total-depression fractures irreducible under anaesthesia, and split fractures with displacement of more than one-half centimeter.
It is the opinion of the authors, based upon this clinical and experimental study, that early active motion is most important in obtaining optimum results in fractures of the tibial condyle.