{"id":11770,"date":"2019-09-03T01:04:38","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T01:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=11770"},"modified":"2021-04-28T19:53:23","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T19:53:23","slug":"14-frequent-symptoms-of-tibial-plateau-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-frequent-symptoms-of-tibial-plateau-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Frequent Symptoms of Tibial Plateau Fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Tibial plateau fractures are one of the most common types of fractures out there, and the average emergency room sees thousands of instances of these every single year \u2013 and they can happen for a variety of different reasons, including sudden trauma to the leg sustained in an accident or sports match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, these types of fractures can put you out of action for at least six to eight weeks, during which the use of a cast is recommended, and surgery might be necessary depending on the severity of the fracture. In some cases, people can walk around with fractures for weeks, months or sometimes even years without knowing it, which can make an existing injury worse over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 frequent symptoms of a tibial plateau fracture that you should know about, watch out for and mention to your doctor (or emergency room staff) if you experience any or all of these. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Sharp, Stabbing Pain in the Knee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain <\/a>is usually one of the first symptoms that there\u2019s something wrong with your health that needs to be addressed as soon as possible, and for this reason, you should never ignore any type of discomfort or pain and see a doctor. If you experience a sharp and stabbing pain in the knee together with some of the other symptoms that have been mentioned on this list, then a tibial fracture is a likely option \u2013 and ideally, you should be rushed to medical attention as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain felt together with the fracture is likely to stay constant for the duration of the fracture; usually, until it can be immobilized with the help of a cast and the pain treated with the use of painkillers. Never wait to see your doctor if you feel any associated pain, even if that\u2019s the only symptom so far and even when you can\u2019t tie it to a recent traumatic injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Swelling of the Knee Joint<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>is usually one of the first symptoms that you will experience in the case of a break, fracture or sprain \u2013 and it\u2019s one of the most important symptoms that could tell you when it\u2019s time to make an appointment with your doctor or get to the emergency room.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where it\u2019s a tibial plateau fracture, the swelling will always affect the knee, almost always be extremely painful and almost always result in swelling of the knee joint \u2013 either at the front of the knee, the sides or the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swelling is also likely to include bruising in the case of a tibial plateau fracture. Depending on how the injury was sustained in the first place, there might be associated swelling located around the injury site, too, although not always.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying ice and pressure immediately after the injury can often help to reduce the initial swelling directly after the injury, and it\u2019s recommended to keep it immobilized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Related Bone-Health Conditions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a lot of different health conditions out there that can affect the bone, and many of them can lead to an increased risk of developing injuries <\/a>and fractures such as a tibial plateau fracture, Jones fracture or other avulsion-type fractures. Some of these conditions include arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other common bone conditions. If you have been diagnosed with any of these or show any of the associated symptoms, then regular appointments with your doctor should be part of your routine every few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These bone-related conditions can weaken bones over time, and they have the potential to increase the risk of a tibial plateau fracture happening in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being diagnosed with such a health condition means serious adaptations to your health in order to reduce the strain you feel. See your doctor and invest in regular sessions with a physiotherapist for some added help when it comes to taking care of your health and condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Inability to Place Pressure on the Knee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people out there believe that breaks and fractures will mean moving the affected limb becomes impossible, but this is a very common medical myth that leads to a lot of fractures being ignored every year. One of the first symptoms that you are likely to experience if you have sustained a tibial plateau fracture is an inability to move the knee or place pressure on it \u2013 although in most cases, the movement range is limited and usually painful, although not impossible to move unless muscles and tendons <\/a>have snapped as a result of the injury too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inability to place pressure on the knee means that there\u2019s a bad sprain, break or fracture \u2013 and if you show symptoms such as pain and swelling together with pressure, it could be a likely tibial plateau fracture. See your doctor for scans and kee the limb as still as you can for the duration of the healing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Dark Bruising<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bruising <\/a>is one of the first symptoms that you will experience in the case of severe injuries, and it can be the symptom that tells you whether you\u2019re dealing with a sprain or a break or fracture instead. If you have sustained a tibial plateau fracture, it\u2019s very likely that there will be bruising located around the focused point for the injury \u2013 and of course, associated pain to go together with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For fractures like tibial plateau injuries, the bruising tends to be a whole lot darker than if you were to have sprained something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As immediate aftercare and to soothe the associated symptoms of the initial injury, try to keep it as still as possible \u2013 and apply ice in order to reduce the bruising until the injury can be treated properly. Never skip out on the ability to have tests done, even if you suspect that it\u2019s just a sprain \u2013 it might be a fracture instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Tingling or Numbness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tingling or numbness <\/a>can sometimes be felt with tibial plateau fractures, and this is a more likely symptom if there was more damage to the knee that\u2019s affecting the blood flow or circulation. If you sustain any kind of knee injury, then you should get yourself to medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think that it\u2019s just a routine sprain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See your doctor whether or not you experience numbness or tingling as a symptom; be sure to report the added symptom it and when it happens, whether it takes place immediately after the injury or several weeks into the healing process while you\u2019re in a cast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any sign of numbness or tingling should be taken as a serious symptom and could mean that you are at an increased risk for either nerve damage or blood clots due to the injury. To be on the safe side, see a medical expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Displacement of Bones<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even though general fractures <\/a>such as a tibial plateau fracture are named based on the location where they occur, more or less, it can be said that there are a thousand possible ways for the same type of fracture to happen; you could sustain a tibial plateau fracture while falling down the stairs, but you could also end up with one after some heavy lifting that was more than your knees could handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of this, it\u2019s pretty obvious that tibial plateau fractures can happen in a few different ways \u2013 and vary in terms of severity. Some plateau fractures can result in the displacement of bones, considerably more pain and worse swelling than you would expect with a \u201cclean\u201d fracture; in severe cases, bones might even press through the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is considered a very serious type of injury that goes beyond a clean break, and you could do very serious damage if medical attention isn\u2019t reached in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Increased Clotting Risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any type of break or fracture should be taken as a serious medical emergency, and any type of break or fracture can cause an increased risk of blood clotting. Blood clots<\/a> can be one of the potential risk factors if you have sustained a break or fracture \u2013 and there are many things that can move to increase your risk. If you are taking any medication that affects the way your blood clots or you have a medical condition that does, then you are at an automatically higher risk of clotting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have sustained any type of injury or fracture, keep the affected limb immobile, but get to medical attention as fast as you can to avoid the risk of any further injury, including clotting. During the healing process, extra precautions might be needed in order to reduce your clotting risk; speak to your doctor to find out more about associated risk factors and what can be done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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