There are much controversies in the method of treatment in the fractures of the tibial condyle. Although the anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation with early knee motion are reconmanded to obtain good results, unsatisfactory results have been reported as 20-40% of cases.

The authors analyzed 36 cases of tibial condylar fractures that treated at the Department of Orthropaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Dong-A University from March 1990 to March 1993.

The results were as follows:

1. The sex ratio was 2.3: 1 in male to female and most common age group was 4th decade.

2. The most common cause of injury was traffic accident in 25 cases(69.4%).

3, According to Schatzkers classification, the most common type was type II in 10 cases(27.8%).

4. The most common associated injuries were ligament injury in 10 cases(27.8%) and fibular fracture in 30 cases(27.8%).

5. By Porters criteria, 8 cases(80%) among 10 conservative cases and 18 cases(69.2%) among 26 operative cases had acceptable results.

6. The complications were most common in type II(5 cases) and type IV(5 cases).

7. The factors of poor results were as follows : displaced comminuted fracture, fracture associated with severe soft tissue injury or with ligamentous and meniscal injury.