A Tibial Plateau Fracture is a painful condition which can result from traumatic injuries to the shin bone and/or knee.
At Vitalis Physiotherapy, our treatment of a tibial plateau fracture aims to:
Tibial Plateau Fracture Treatment
What is a Tibial Plateau Fracture?
The knee comprises of the thigh bone (femur), the kneecap (patella) and the shin bone (tibia) joining together. The tibial plateau is found at the top end of the tibia which meets at the knee joint. This area of the both is largely responsible for weight and shock absorption.
The Schatzker classification is used to determine the extent of a tibial plateau fracture. Using a scale from Type I to Type VI, injuries can range from minimal hairline fractures/displacement to extensive separation and depression of bone fragments at different planes (e.g., medial, transverse, etc.)
Fractures and other serious injuries to the knee can result in damage to nearby nerves, blood vessels and other musculoskeletal structures, causing chronic pain or permanent injury.
What are the causes?
The cause of a tibial plateau fracture is mostly due to traumatic injuries, such as falling or jumping and landing from a great height. Contributing factors to injury includes:
- Trauma injuries – e.g. vehicle accident
- Falls – from a height and landing on feet/knee
- Repetitive strain from sport/activity – e.g. football, skiing, athletics
- Health factors – e.g. osteoporosis, osteoarthiritis, genetic defects/predispositions, etc
The force of an injury may even fracture other bones within the knee or legs.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain – can be sudden/severe
- Referred pain felt down the shins
- Pain while walking/bending leg/standing
- Stiffness/inability to move the knee joint
- Tenderness/painful to touch
- Reduced or no range of movement
- Inability/extreme difficulty to weight bear on the knee/leg
- Swelling and bruising; paleness
- Instability – feels like the joint is slipping out of place
- Bone breaking through skin
Treatment for a Tibial Plateau Fracture
If you have fractured your tibial plateau, it is important to seek out immediate medical treatment. You will likely be referred for CT, X-ray or MRI scans to determine the extent of the injury. Surgical intervention may be recommended as a method of treatment – whether that be the insertion of pins to stabilise the joint, to a complete knee replacement.
Physical therapy is also highly beneficial in rehabilitating the structures around the knee post fracture to increase range of movement and strength. At Vitalis Physiotherapy, we tailor a unique treatment plan to aid in your recovery through:
- Stretching, strengthening and/or conditioning exercises
- Restoring range of movement
- Postural improvement
- Joint mobilisation
- Soft tissue release (massage)
- Shockwave Therapy
- Dry needling
- Taping
- A unique home exercise program
- Graded Exposure to load program
Your physiotherapist may also advise heat or ice application, rest and if necessary, pain medication. Additionally, they might recommend for you to use supportive braces or belts.
How to book an appointment?
If you are recovering from a fractured tibial plateau, or you’re looking for a ‘physiotherapist near me’, our physios at Vitalis Physiotherapy can assess your condition to tailor a unique rehabilitation plan to aid in your pain relief and recovery.
All you need to do is just give us a call on 0410 559 856 and request an initial appointment. Please let our friendly reception staff know the background and severity of your condition.
You can visit our FAQs for more information about appointments at Vitalis Physiotherapy.
Need Help?
Are you recovering from a fractured tibial plateau? Contact Vitalis Physiotherapy now to book in your treatment.
Call our friendly team on 0410 559 856. We’d love to help.
Contact Us
