Tibial Plateau Fracture

Overview

A tibial plateau fracture is a break in the upper end of the tibia that involves the articular surface of the knee joint. These fractures can result from high-energy trauma in younger patients or from lower-energy falls in older adults with osteoporotic bone. The lateral plateau is most commonly affected, often from a valgus force applied to the knee, but medial and bicondylar fracture patterns also occur and tend to be higher-energy injuries.

Successful treatment of tibial plateau fractures requires restoring the joint surface, correcting limb alignment, and maintaining knee stability. Depending on the fracture pattern, treatment may range from protected weight bearing for non-displaced fractures to open reduction and internal fixation or arthroscopy-assisted reduction for displaced injuries. Our San Diego orthopedic trauma surgeons use advanced imaging and surgical techniques to achieve the best possible outcomes for these complex joint injuries.