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Tibial Plateau Fracture – Skiing

(23 discussions)

Hello, I am in the 11th week of a tibial plateau fracture and have been wanting to start Physical Therapy (PT).
I do not feel any pain anymore and have been working on leg extension and flexion. Don’t you think I should have started PT by now, if not like 4 weeks ago?

23 comments

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    9 10

    I am in my 6th week since a Tibea Plateau fracture from a slip on the steps. I am unable to put weight for another 4 weeks.Did you have bone grafts also? I was told no physio until I am able to start weight bearing.

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    9 10

    I am in my 6th week since a Tibea Plateau fracture from a slip on the steps. I am unable to put weight on my leg for another 4 weeks.Did you have bone grafts also? I was told no physio until I am able to start weight bearing.

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    9 10

    I fell on Nov 6 playing dodge ball and fracture my tibia plateau no surgery no weight baring for 12 weeks. I had to wait 4 weeks before I could turn the dail on the brace to bend my leg. I begged the doctor to go to rehab he wrote out a prescription of what I was to do strethces, prop the leg up for 10 minutes and leg lifts. Once you get the OK for full weight baring then really push for for physcial therapy. It take along long time to recover I still have limp when I walk but each day it gets better.

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    9 10

    I’m five weeks post surgery for a medial tibial plateau fracture (bone graft, sensoredress plate and four screws). My OS started me on PT before I left the hospital – just minor stuff like walking up and down stairs. I started “real” PT after two weeks and I think its made all the difference in the world. I’m still non-weight bearing for another 5-7 weeks, but I do leg lifts and bending exercises as well as some exercises to strengthen the quad muscles that have deteriorated. I’m almost pain free (still a general ache) and have 125 degree range of motion. You should beg to get in PT as soon as possible – it’s a little painful, but its well worth it.

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    9 10

    Hi, I fractured my tibial plateau, also skiing, 3 months ago. I couldn’t weight bear for 6 weeks, and after that time started physio straight away. My mobility is so restricted, only 85 degree bend, so I’d say get onto physio asap to start getting it back to normal.

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    9 10

    Hi! I fractured my tibial plateau on the 6th of January 07. I had surgery on the 9. I was sent home with NWB, and I went to the Ortho last week. I was told to stay of it for another week, and then we would most likely start rehab. At the moment I can move my knee up to about 85 degrees, and it doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just a little worried about the rehab. I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little about how the therapy is. Will I be able to walk right away, or will I still be using a walker? Thanks

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    9 10

    I had a ski accident on Friday around 11 It looks like a very serious and long term injury. I hope everybody feels better wiyh every minute that goes…

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    9 10

    I am recuperating from a Tibial Plateu fracture which occured on October 1st which required immediate surgery. The doctors said the fractures were so severe that they initially considered amputation. I now have two plates and 14 screws and pins. It has been a month and I have been in physical therapy for 2 weeks to restrengthen my quads and have just started touch down weight bearing (max 5 lbs.)with my brace on, and I am currently at 55 degree range of motion.Amazingly I don’t really have any pain to speak of I haven’t needed my pain medication in two weeks. I don’t want to play this game anymore:)

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    9 10

    I became am a victim of a tibia plateau fracture on Oct. 7 while skateboarding. I had surgery a week later where they implanted a metal plate with 4 screws, a bone graph using some coral material and fixed some torn cartilage. I have done 3 weeks of physical therapy which has help greatly in the recovery of this injury. I was told that I would be pretty much healed by March. Man this sensored.

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    9 10

    I became am a victim of a tibia plateau fracture on Oct. 7 while skateboarding. I had surgery a week later where they implanted a metal plate with 4 screws, a bone graph using some coral material and fixed some torn cartilage. I have done 3 weeks of physical therapy which has help greatly in the recovery of this injury. I was told that I would be pretty much healed by March. This is no fun.

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      9 10

      7/3/09 Well, I think we should start a national organization of TPF. I was on my beautiful new bike last week when a cab slowed at an intersection (stop sign ignored) and then accelerated at the last moment to send me flying into the air! Surgery the following day and plate and screws (no arthroscopy for me). This is the first week since surgery and I have just begun the CPM for two weeks with an end goal of 90 degrees flexation, 6 – 8 hours a day. Not sure what type of PT comes after this, but I am expected NWB for 6 weeks. This sounds agressive in relation to 12 weeks NWB I have read about. Yeah, summer is going to be passing me by.

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    9 10

    JUST FRACTURED MINE TODAY AT WORK TRIPPING OFF BACK OF WORK TRUCK. SEE ORTHO TOMORROW. NOT LIKING WHAT I HEAR ABOUT RECOVERY. THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO SUCK !!!!!!!!!!!!

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    9 10

    I fell while skiing on Dec 13, 08 and got a ride down the hill in a tobogan curtesy of the Ski Patrol. Xrays at the resort clearly showed a tibial plateau fracture in my right tibia. Fracture was about mid way on the plateau and split vertically down the tibia’s shaft about 4-5″. Surgery was the 14th leaving me with 3 large screws through the plateau and a plate on the medial side of the tibia with 6 more screws. ROM started immediately after surgery with a CPM that I took home from the hospital and used for 2 more weeks. ROM continues with at home exercises. No weight bearing for 12 weeks. I am at 13 weeks now and have started minimal touch down on walking with crutches. Small weight increases to continue for another month. I have had very little pain and have over 125 degrees of ROM. As others have said “I am very tired of all of this!” Can’t wait to get as close to normal as possible. Although I have gained significant appreciation for permanently handicapped people.

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    9 10

    i sustained a lateral tibial plateau fracture on 4/8/2h 008. fortunately I was skiing with 4 orthppedic surgeons. I am also an occpational therapist and certified hand therapist – so my rehab has been pretty agressive. I flew home and had arthroscopic surgery 4 days later. I have 2 screws in my tibia. my os started PT 3days post-op. I was done as an op surgery with no cpm unit. I have about 95% of my active extension and flexion and apparently I may begin wt bearing 1n another 3 weeks. I am 3 weeks post op. I got off of the pain meds asap, but pain at night and edema are still persisting. I certainly hope I am not non weight bearing for 12 weeks – financially that will kill me. i’m self employed!!! The cruthes are a real pain and aggrevating my wrists. i,ve taken a few tumbles myself! using a walkin shower with a seat and getting a long handled reacher to retreive items is a life saver, check with the ot dept at ypoyr local hospital for imformation on adaptive equipment.

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    9 10

    i sustained a lateral tibial plateau fracture on 4/8/2h 008. fortunately I was skiing with 4 orthopedic surgeons. I am also an occpational therapist and certified hand therapist – so my rehab has been pretty agressive. I flew home and had arthroscopic surgery 4 days later. I have 2 screws in my tibia. my os started PT 3days post-op. I was done as an op surgery with no cpm unit. I have about 95% of my active extension and flexion and apparently I may begin wt bearing 1n another 3 weeks. I am 3 weeks post op. I got off of the pain meds asap, but pain at night and edema are still persisting. I certainly hope I am not non weight bearing for 12 weeks – financially that will kill me. i’m self employed!!! The cruthes are a real pain and aggrevating my wrists. i”ve taken a few tumbles myself! using a walk-in shower with a seat and getting a long handled reacher to retreive items is a life saver. check with the ot dept at your local hospital for imformation on adaptive equipment.

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    9 10

    I had tibial plateau fracture on 04/22/2018 from an escalator tumble and had 2 surgeries, the first external fixation which was on from 04/23/2018-05/19/2018, put on by Howard University. That was living h*ll. The reason it was on so long was because they could not get my in to do the internal fixation, so I had to find another ortho. Luckily I found an amazing ortho who got my in on 05/19 and removed my ext fixator and placed a c-type plate with 6-7 screws (I am only 55, so that is a lot for my little leg). It is now July and I will not know if I can weight bear until 07/15/2018. Apparently I had one of the most major types of fractures which was terribly mal reduced by the external fixator (the actual good surgeons notes). I have been doing ROM since I got my staples out and am at about 160 degrees, and let me tell you it is h*ll, bruises have developed behind my knees my pain is random. One day will be great, the next day will just ache like someone is hammering it. I immediately got off the Oxycotin (cold turkey)ANOTHER week of hell, with the withdrawals, but it was worth it! I am now on Tramadol and Percocet for the bad days and naproxen (Aleve) for the good days. I just want to walk again. Is there anyone who has had a major fracture of the tib-plateau and is walking normally (even running); how long did it take? How does the knee feel now? Luckily I have really good disability and I can work from homecrutch and couch living are driving my insane! Thanks.

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      9 10

      Bad news, Percocet is Oxycotin. You may have gone through with withdrawals for nothing.

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    9 10

    Had surgery on 6/17. Cadaver bone to reconstruct + two screws. Done arthroscopically. Started PT immediately after surgery (on 6/24). In a brace that is totally unlocked. My very exc PT guy says key thing is to get the leg straight ASAP. And that once I get to >110 deg flexion it should improve quickly. But progress is slow. I do 4 sets of exercises daily and 8x/day work on straightening – ice the knee, elevate foot and put a bit of weight on the knee. I think the arthro was a huge bennie to minimize swelling, but like I said, progress seems SLOW so far. Good luck to all.

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    9 10

    I thought I’d post a follow up note. It has been 9 months since my surgery and I am about 95% back to normal. I found that the more leg exercises the better. The best is mountain bike riding for the quads and hamstrings. My leg is straight and I walk normally with no limp. I have nearly 100% knee flex. Skiing may be another matter! I’ll let you know…

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    9 10

    i fractured my tibia pl. wrecking on my dirt bike. the injury occured july 20, 08, surgery on the 23rd. they had to repair the miniscus, so I had to go Non weight bearing for almost 8 weeks. I have been doing PT for a month and now it is the end of Oct. I have 105 degrees of motion. and the pain is excruciating at PT. yea, not good. but I can walk, so that is good. I have been diligetn about PT, and I excersize and stretch constantly during the day. very bad body part to injure. doc says I get 5 degrees of motion per week. this will take for ever..

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    9 10

    I know this was a long time ago.. just wondering how PT was when you started? I have a tibial plateau frature and a tibial spine fracture, non-displaced, from skiing accident… I am on my 4th week and start PT this week, so I want to know what to expect when I go in for it… I can’t wait to start walking again without crutches!!

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    9 10

    I fractured my tibia plateau on 2/17/09. I originally was told 6 to l0 weeks. I was given option of bone graft and pins. I declined because I did not want pins and bone graft. My compression was 3mm. It is now 3/l8 and I have to wait till 5/5 to get another xray and then I am expecting full weight. I assume that will be another adjustment. I have tried to think of the positive things. I am 53 years old, relative good shape but have lost alot sitting around. If I learned anything is that I should slow down but I do intend on sking again. That’s right I am not gonna let this scare me!!!

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    9 10

    After an accident on my dirtbike, I was told I had a level II tibial plat. fracture. I had surgery 3 weeks later and I am now on day 8 post-op. Plates and screws were put in. I do not see my doctor until next tuesday. I have been trying to do stretches, however I am having trouble bending the knee and it’s extremly painful!! Is this normal?! Will I ever be able to bend it again? I am scared of this recovery!!

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