Arthroscopic-assisted inflatable bone tamp reduction for treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures

•First, the study described the utilization of arthroscopy in the reduction of posterolateral tibal plateau fractures. It satisfies the minimal invasive concept which prevents from excessive iatrogenic injuries during surgeries. Second, the inflatable bone tamp is first used in treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures. The technique is proved to be minimally invasive, safe, accurate and effective, even though the study is not completely randomized control.•This study provided a novel technique for performing the reduction of depressed and split-depressed pasterolateral tibial plateau fractures. It offers distinct advantages of clear vision, accurate reduction, minimally invasive and preservation of the soft tissue envelope. In addition, the expanded cavity below the articular surface allows for the insertion of a larger amount of bone void filler that should be more stable structurally and rigid biomechanically. Arthroscopic-assisted inflatable bone tamp reduction may be an effective method for the surgical treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures.