A foundational experimental (cadaveric) study that established the mechanism of lateral tibial plateau fractures. Kennedy and Bailey applied controlled valgus and axial-compressive loads to 44 cadaver knees (15 embalmed, 29 fresh) using a custom stress machine built with General Motors Diesel of Canada, loading each specimen to failure and then examining it radiographically and by dissection. They showed that valgus (abduction) combined with compression is the principal force producing lateral tibial plateau fractures — abduction forces intended to tear the tibial collateral ligament instead "invariably" fractured the lateral plateau. On this mechanistic basis they proposed one of the earliest classifications of tibial plateau fractures, predating and informing later systems (Hohl; Schatzker).
A foundational experimental (cadaveric) study that established the mechanism of lateral tibial plateau fractures. Kennedy and Bailey applied controlled valgus and axial-compressive loads to 44 cadaver knees (15 embalmed, 29 fresh) using a custom stress machine built with General Motors Diesel of Canada, loading each specimen to failure and then examining it radiographically and by dissection. They showed that valgus (abduction) combined with compression is the principal force producing lateral tibial plateau fractures — abduction forces intended to tear the tibial collateral ligament instead "invariably" fractured the lateral plateau. On this mechanistic basis they proposed one of the earliest classifications of tibial plateau fractures, predating and informing later systems (Hohl; Schatzker).