Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to complex fracture types and unsatisfactory treatment results of tibial plateau fracture, the surgical approach and treatment methods are often unclear. The common clinical classification of tibial plateau fracture is different, which brings some difficulties to the choice of clinicians. In recent years, with more and more application of fracture mapping technology in clinical research, more and more studies on tibial plateau fracture mapping have been conducted.  
OBJECTIVE: To reconstruct the three-dimensional model of tibial plateau fracture and to analyze the characteristics of fracture lines.
METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 133 cases of tibial plateau fractures. The original imaging data of patients were collected and used to reconstruct fracture model in Mimics 17.0 software. The reconstructed fracture model was reduced and fitted to the standard template and all fracture lines were delineated and superimposed on the standard template in 3-matic 9.0 software.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Most patients of tibial plateau fracture were aged between 43 and 52 years (33.1%). Fractures in male patients mainly occurred between 43 and 52 years old (35.4%), and the average peak age of onset was 47 years; fractures in female patients mainly occurred between 53 and 62 years (40.7%), and the average peak age of onset was 52 years old. (2) The fracture line of lateral tibial plateau (81.8%) was more than that of medial plateau (31.4%). Fracture lines tended to occur mainly on the inner part of the lateral condyle that extended to the junctional zone between Gerdy’s tubercle and the tibial tubercle (75.9%), as well as intercondylar eminence (71.5%). There were three secondary fracture lines: One ran from the intercondylar eminence to the front of the fibular head (21.2%). The second line took an outer arc along the outer edge of the anterolateral tibial plateau (13.8%). The third line ran from the anteromedial to the posterolateral that extended to lateral tibial plateau (15.3%). Fracture lines were less likely to occur in the tibial tubercle (13.1%), the Gerdy’s tubercle (10.9%), the posteromedial fragment (8.6%), and tibiofibular articular surface (7.3%). (3) Results have showed that tibial plateau fracture has its own predilection sites. In clinical work, individual analysis and treatment are needed instead of relying entirely on a certain fracture type.

Key words: knee, trauma, tibial plateau fracture, fracture lines, three-dimensional model, computed tomography, fracture mapping, three-dimensional reconstruction