How Long Does It Take to Recover From a Tibial Plateau Fracture?

A tibial plateau fracture is a break in the upper part of the shin bone, which affects the stability and movement of the knee joint. 

Fractures of the tibial plateau are quite serious, because the upper surface of the tibia bone contains structures such as the cartilage meniscus and cruciate ligaments which are critical to knee functions.

Tibial plateau fractures can occur from:

• Stress (minor breaks from unusual excessive activity) 
• Already compromised bone (as in cancer or infection)
• Trauma (injury)

Young people experience these fractures often because of a high-energy movement, such as a fall from a considerable height, sports-related incident or car accident. In older people with more fragile bones, however, a fracture can result from a simple fall.

Symptoms of tibial plateau fracture may include:

• Pain that is worse when weight is placed on the affected leg
• Swelling around the knee
• Stiffness of the knee joint
• Deformity where the knee may look out of place
• Foot paleness which may indicate impaired blood supply
• Foot numbness or pins and needles which may indicate nerve injury or excessive swelling in the leg

For the first few weeks, some symptoms may be uncomfortable but resolve quickly. Eventually as your bone heals, you will be able to fully recover and resume regular activities, although it will take time, patience and hard work.

X-rays are necessary to accurately diagnose a tibial plateau fracture. If soft tissue (ligaments, cartilage, etc.) damage is suspected, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be ordered. 

Treatment options depend on the extent of the damage and whether the fractured bone is displaced from its position. Treatment may include resting and applying cold therapy or ice and compression to help reduce pain and swelling.

Non-displaced tibial plateau fracture

A non-displaced fracture is when the tibia sustains a break or crack without a fragment of the bone getting separated:

• This type of fracture normally has a better outcome than displaced fractures and heals without surgical intervention within 3-4 months.
• Physical therapy rehabilitation exercises are necessary to maintain leg strength. These exercises should start soon after injury and continue throughout the recovery phase.

Displaced tibial plateau fracture

A displaced fracture is one where the fractured bone fragments get displaced from their original position. In this case, surgery is usually needed to fix the fragments back in place and promote proper healing of the bone tissue:

• Surgery involves placing screws and/or plates in and around the bone fragments to keep them secure.
• Recovery following surgery may take several months and will require you to not bear weight on the affected leg for a long time. If soft tissue injuries have been sustained this recovery process may take longer.