How is a tibial plateau fracture treated?

Tibial Plateau Fracture Care For fractures that have not shifted, surgery may not be needed. The most common non-surgical treatment is a short leg, non-weightbearing cast or a hinged knee brace, combined with physical therapy and rest. Fractures that have shifted require surgery.

How long does it take to walk again after a tibial plateau fracture?

If you had surgery for your tibial plateau fracture, you can put a little bit of weight on the leg after 6 weeks with the goal of walking normally by the 10th week. If you did not have surgery for your tibial plateau fracture, you can start walking safely with a knee brace in 4-6 weeks.

Does tibial plateau fracture require surgery?

Most non-displaced fractures of the tibial plateau can be treated without surgery, but they usually require an extended period (up to three months) of protection from walking. If displacement occurs, surgery may be needed to realign the bone fragments and hold them in position.

How long does a tibial plateau fracture hurt?

The time needed to recover from a non-displaced tibial plateau fracture depends on the severity of the break. On average, most patients need between 3-6 months to recover completely and regain full function of their knee.

What is a trabecular fracture?

A bending or curving fracture of a bone (usually of the forearm) due to a traumatic load that compresses the bone along its long axis.

How severe is a tibial plateau fracture?

Tibial plateau fractures affect the knee alignment, joint, stability and movement. Thus, fractures of the tibial plateau are considered quite serious as this upper surface of the bone contains structures which are critical to the knee functioning.

How long is physical therapy after tibial plateau fracture?

When surgery is required these cases take around 4 months to heal. After this healing period, Physical Therapy most often continues until at 6 months, a patient is typically able to return to a normal life, albeit with certain limitations.

What does trabecular bone do?

The general functional role of trabecular bone is to provide strength and transfer external load away from the joint and toward the cortical bone (Currey, 2002; Barak et al.