{"id":11747,"date":"2019-09-01T10:10:05","date_gmt":"2019-09-01T10:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=11747"},"modified":"2021-04-27T19:05:36","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T19:05:36","slug":"15-common-causes-of-tibial-plateau-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-common-causes-of-tibial-plateau-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Causes of Tibial Plateau Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tibial plateau fractures are a common type of knee injury that lands thousands of people in the emergency room every year. It\u2019s estimated that approximately 1% of total fractures every year are tibial plateau fractures, which usually take place when there\u2019s a strong impact which compresses the knee \u2013 and of course, there are a thousand different ways in which this can take place, from skiing through to car accidents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a tibial plateau fracture, it\u2019s likely that you might need surgery \u2013 and your knee and leg will likely have to be placed in a cast for up to eight weeks depending on the severity of the injury. Symptoms of a tibial plateau fracture can include swelling of the knee, extreme pain and the inability to move or bend the leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 of the most common causes of a tibial plateau fracture that you should look out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Car Accident as a Pedestrian<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Car accidents happen at a rate of a few thousand per year, with increases during certain times of the year as roads get busier, usually during the holiday season. They\u2019re called accidents because of the fact that you never know when or where they can take place. These types of accidents don\u2019t just affect you as a motorist or driver: There are thousands of pedestrians who are in accidents every single year, and these types of accidents usually result in impacts such as tibial plateau<\/a> fractures, which can be extremely painful and vary in severity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibial fractures are one of the most common types that can be sustained by pedestrians in car accidents; this impact is usually transferred directly from the bumper through to the knee, causing a tibial plateau fracture. In fact, they\u2019re so common with these types of accidents that they can also be referred to as bumper fractures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediate medical attention is needed, even where the injury might seem slight at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Car Accident as a Driver or Passenger<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of pedestrians involved in car accidents will sustain a tibial plateau fracture, usually from the impact that the knee takes when it\u2019s hit by a part of the car or bumper; this isn\u2019t the only way in which a car accident can cause this fracture <\/a>\u2013 usually, the other way is being in the driver or passenger\u2019s side during a car accident. The same impact can easily be transferred to the knee and tibia where it impacts the car from the inside, such as against the dash or steering wheel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the first symptoms after a car accident might not seem as severe, but this can largely be attributed to adrenaline and initial shock. Medical attention is always necessary in order to establish the full extent of the injury, even when you might think that you are fine since even tibial fractures can be hidden by the initial shock of having been in a car accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Falling On the Knees<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Falls are one of the most common reasons out there for emergency room visits, and they aren\u2019t just the kind of accidents that only happen to the elderly; they can happen at any point, and there are a thousand different situations in which a fall causing a tibial plateau fracture can happen. Usually, these types of fractures are sustained when someone falls directly on the knees \u2013 and the sustained impact is enough to dislocate the kneecap and fracture the tibia<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fall to the knees can hurt and can result in pain, bruising and swelling. Of course, this doesn\u2019t always mean that there\u2019s been a fracture, but depending on the level of pain felt and the symptoms experienced, it\u2019s almost always safer to seek medical attention in order to have x-rays done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Falls can happen in the most ridiculous of situations, and they can happen to anyone just by tripping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Contact Sport Injury<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to contact sports, certain types of injuries are considered to come with the territory \u2013 and by some, they\u2019re just considered part of the game. A tibial plateau fracture is one of the most common types of injuries sustained during contact sports such as kickboxing and karate \u2013 and they require immediate medical attention when they happen as well as likely time in a cast, usually six to eight weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes surgery <\/a>is necessary to correct the damage, especially in the case of professional sports. Many times a severe tibial plateau fracture can lead to the need for a total or partial knee replacement, in which case it can mean the end of a professional sports career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It goes without saying that immediate medical attention is needed in order to heal the fracture. Never push through the pain, and take extra precaution when resuming any type of physical activity after the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Falling from a Height<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Falling on the knees isn\u2019t the only way in which you can sustain a tibial plateau fracture: Sometimes any kind of fall from a height can also be enough to cause a tibial plateau fracture. When the impact is transferred through to the tibia and knees due to the fall, the force can sometimes be enough to fracture the tibia and displace the knee \u2013 of course, extreme pain and swelling <\/a>are the first symptoms, and there might be an impaired ability to move the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fall like this is likely to cause immediate pain and swelling, although the full extent of the injury might only show up on an x-ray, which should show why it\u2019s vital to seek medical attention immediately after sustaining an injury like this. It\u2019s not uncommon for people to walk around with a fracture they didn\u2019t know about for weeks at a time, which could make the injury a lot worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. A Misstep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Accidents aren\u2019t the type of events that you can predict; sometimes you just take a wrong step when crossing the road, when walking from one room to another, when exercising \u2013 and if this results in a fall where any kind of severe impact is sustained to the knees, then it\u2019s likely that it could be the cause of a potential tibial plateau fracture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibial plateau fractures can happen at several points in the tibia, and it could break or fracture at several different angles. Because of this, x-rays<\/a> should be one of the first steps in a suspected tibial plateau fracture in order to establish the extent of the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep it as still as possible until medical attention can be reached. Fractures can frequently move, which can lead to worsening pain and further issues like an increased risk of developing blood clots. See your doctor even where you might not have thought that it was a fracture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Skiing and Other Sports<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Contact sports aren\u2019t the only ones that are prone to certain injuries; there are hundreds of other sports that can see accidents happen, and where tibial plateau fractures are considered common ones. Some of the types of sports which see regular occurrences of tibial plateau fractures include skiing, ice hockey, rollerblading and any sport where the impact is absorbed by the knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes even simple activities such as jogging or running can be enough t cause the type of impact which can cause a tibial plateau fracture \u2013 and there are some other factors that can increase your risk, including several different medical conditions like arthritis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you suspect that you might have an underlying medical condition, speak to your doctor first before taking on any more forms of strenuous exercise, especially ones where physical contact or the potential for physical impact can exist. If you\u2019re currently healing from an injury like this, then speak to your doctor before continuing your usual routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Underlying Arthritis or Other Conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many underlying health conditions that can be a trigger for tibial plateau fractures taking place; many of these different medical conditions can place you at an increased risk of contracting a tibial plateau fracture due to the fact that it can weaken the bone over time. There are a thousand-and-one different fractures at play when it comes to what can make breaks and fractures more likely \u2013 and this is why you should see your doctor at least a few times per year, especially if you know of any underlying conditions or risk factors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider yourself more at risk of developing these conditions if you have any kind of family history of these disorders: And yes, even if the disorder was never officially named or diagnosed in their lifetime. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of these underlying risk factors can be treated, although early intervention is usually best over waiting for an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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