Author: Manasi Jyothish, Andrew Tabner / Editor: Steve Corry-Bass / Reviewer: Andrew Tabner, Michael Perry / Codes: GP1, SLO4 / Published: 14/10/2020
A 26-year-old female American Football player presents to the emergency department after being tackled violently by two players and suffering a left knee injury. She has been unable to weight-bear since the injury and her movements are severely restricted.
On examination the knee is painful to flex or extend fully and is held in a semi-flexed position at around 90 degrees.
Examination reveals no deformity, with moderate pain on palpation over the anterolateral tibial plateau. A large effusion is present.
A tibial plateau fracture was suggested on plain film, and following discussion with the orthopaedic team a CT of the knee was obtained. An image from the CT is shown below.
9 responses
Very useful knowledge both clinically and in terms of orthopaedic assessment.
Nice to know but probably not essential in ED. Tibial plateau fracture in ED= immobilise and admit. I would generally leave the CT to Ortho to arrange unless she was going to theatre immediately.
Excellent revision
Informative.
Very useful review of tibial plateau fractures.
Good referral to the classification system
importance of classification of Tibial Plateau fracture and management plan accordingly
Nice one
Excellent revision