Tibial Plateau Fracture Research Paper

Tibial Plateau Fracture Treated With Open Reduction

A tibial plateau fracture is a break in the bone that forms the bottom of your knee joint (tibia or shinbone). The lower end of your thighbone (femur) forms the upper surface of your knee joint. The top of the tibia has a flat, smooth surface (tibial plateau). This part of your shinbone is made up of softer bone than the shaft of your shinbone. If a strong force drives your femur down into your tibial plateau, it can cause the tibial plateau to collapse or break away at the edges.

A displaced tibial plateau fracture means that a piece or pieces of your tibial plateau have been moved out of normal position. This type of fracture is treated with open reduction. Open reduction is a type of

This can form in the leg and travel to the lungs.

• Knee pain.

• Nerve damage.

BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

• Ask your health care provider about:

○ Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.

○ Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.

• Ask your health care provider what kind of medicine you will be given during your procedure.An open reduction for a tibial plateau fracture may be done using:

○ Medicine injected into your spine that numbs your body below the waist (spinal anesthesia).

○ Medicine injected into the lower membrane that surrounds your spinal cord (epidural anesthesia).

○ Medicine that makes you sleep during the procedure (general anesthesia). If you will be given general anesthesia, do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the night before the procedure, or as directed by your health care provider.

PROCEDURE

• An intravenous line (IV) may be started in your arm or hand.

• You will be given one of the following:

○ Spinal anesthesia.

○ Epidural

Your hip area may also be cleaned if your fracture requires a bone graft that is taken from your hipbone.

• The surgeon will make a cut (incision) through your skin to expose the areas of the fracture.

• The broken bones will be put back into their normal positions. The surgeon will use screws, screws and a metal plate, or different types of wiring to hold the bones in place.

• If a bone graft is being used, a small incision might be made over your hip to remove a piece of bone and place it into your knee for support.

• The surgeon will close all incisions with stitches (sutures) or staples.

• A bandage (dressing) will be placed over your incisions.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE

• Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored often until the medicines you were given have worn off. You will stay in a recovery room.

• It is normal to have some pain. You will be given medicine for pain relief.

• You may have physical therapy while in the hospital.

• You may have to wear a hinged knee brace. This lets your health care provider gently move your knee to prevent stiffness.

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