Tibial Plateau (Knee) Fracture

The tibial plateau is the top part of the tibia (“shin bone”) and makes up part of your knee joint. A tibial plateau fracture often occurs due to a high-impact injury, such as a car accident or sports-related injury. This type of fracture can also occur due to repetitive microtrauma over time that causes the bone to break.

Because of the location of the fracture site, a tibial plateau fracture often needs surgery due to poor joint positioning after the injury. Surgical intervention focuses on restoring proper joint alignment to prevent knee arthritis and other complications. Dr. Bercik has specialty training in fixing tibial plateau (knee) fractures.

Symptoms

• Swelling, bruising, and deformity of the knee joint
• Point tenderness and pain over the knee
• Pale and cool skin around the foot due to blood flow disruption
• Numbness or tingling in the foot

Diagnosis

Tibial plateau fractures are typically diagnosed with X-rays. This type of imaging will provide specific details regarding the type and extent of the fractured bone. An MRI may be used to diagnose any damage to the surrounding tendons and knee ligaments.

Treatment

This type of fracture is usually treated surgically. Depending on the extent of the fracture, it is important to ensure the wound is protected from infection, as there is often soft tissue trauma after this type of fracture. To stabilize the fracture, surgical intervention is done through internal fixation to keep the tibia intact and help the knee joint heal in proper alignment. This type of injury will also require physical therapy to restore the proper function of the knee joint.