What is a comminuted tibial plateau fracture?
Overview. A tibial plateau fracture refers to a break or crack in the top of the shin bone, at the knee. It involves the cartilage surface of the knee joint. This joint helps supports your body weight, and when it is fractured, it is unable to absorb shock.
How is a tibial plateau fracture treated?
The injury is usually fixed with metal plates and screws placed through a large incision. The type of fracture usually dictates what types of incisions and how many plates and screws are needed. Sometimes bone graft or types of bone cement are needed to support the joint surface.
How long does it take for a comminuted tibia fracture to heal?
Most tibial shaft fractures take 4 to 6 months to heal completely. Some take even longer, especially if the fracture was open or broken into several pieces or if the patients uses tobacco products.
Do all comminuted fractures require surgery?
Comminuted fractures are almost always caused by serious traumas like car accidents or falls from a high place. They are very serious in large bones, and you will often need surgery to repair your bones. Sometimes, comminuted fractures happen to smaller bones and can heal without surgery.
How long does it take to heal a comminuted fracture?
Healing can take several months in severely comminuted and open tibia fractures (4) (Fig. 39-11), and pin loosening is likely to occur during such long healing times if simple frames are used.
Do comminuted fractures take longer to heal?
How long does it take a comminuted fracture to heal? Comminuted fractures take longer to heal than other kinds of broken bones. They’re also much more likely to involve complications.
Why tibial plateau fractures are overlooked?
Why Tibial Plateau Fractures Are Overlooked – PubMed. The major reasons for overlooking TPFs were 1) difficulty in recognizing the fractures on X-rays and 2) that X-ray decision rules were not employed.
What is the healing time for a tibia fracture?
Recovery time for a tibia fracture typically takes 4-6 months to heal completely. If the fracture is open or comminuted, healing time may take longer. Your doctor will often prescribe medications for pain-relief for a short period of time after the injury or surgery. How long before you can walk on a broken tibia?
How to treat tibial stress fracture?
Tibial stress fractures (also known as fatigue fractures) are generally uncomplicated and respond well to conservative treatment. The most important principle in treating any stress fracture is to employ rest and weight-bearing restriction for as long as needed to allow the symptoms to resolve (1,2).
How does forefoot running prevent tibial stress fracture?
“Running with a forefoot strike increases the load on the foot and ankle, which can increase the risk of stress fractures in the foot. Making the change to more minimal footwear or to a forefoot…