Double-Incision Approach and Early Rehabilitation in a Complicated Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fracture: A Case Report

• Published in: Medical principles and practice Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 387 - 389
• Main Authors: Affatato, Saverio, Montalti, Maurizio, Masetti, Claudio, Giardina, Federico, Sudanese, Alessandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Bone Plates; Bone surgery; Case Report; Case reports; Classification; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fractures; Humans; Injuries; Knee; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedic Procedures - methods; Orthopedics; Patient satisfaction; Reconstructive surgery; Rehabilitation; Skin & tissue grafts; Surgery; Surgical techniques; Tibial Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Tibial Fractures - rehabilitation; Tibial Fractures - surgery; Trauma; Treatment Outcome; X-rays; Italy; Bicondylar tibial fracture; Association for Osteosynthesis classification; Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1011-7571; 1423-0151
• DOI: 10.1159/000476067

Objective: The main goal of this case was to report the treatment of bicondylar fractures of the tibial plateau and the restoration of the metaphyseo-diaphyseal dissociation. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: A 54-year-old male who was cycling had a road accident that caused a closed fracture of the right tibial plateau and proximal fibula diagnosed by X-rays. The patient underwent surgery and was immobilized with a long-leg splint for 4 weeks. After immobilization, aggressive rehabilitation was done. Progressive quadriceps strengthening, movements to improve symmetrical weight bearing, and functional activities were performed. The patient improved muscle strength and obtained high scores for gait and balance in a relatively short time. Conclusion: In this report, a bicondylar tibial fracture treated with a two-incision approach and a double-plate osteosynthesis provided strong fracture stabilization and thereby allowed an early mobilization with aggressive rehabilitation.