Anyone else had tibial platuex fracture?

[JOSB]

Hi I am nearly 8 weeks after a tibial plateux fracture, and 5 weeks after an operation to repair it. A horse fell on me, just on the yard not ridden, freak accident. I was lucky as had no pain with it, until they are operated, then I had pain. But it has gone now and I am increasing my knee mobility every day and toe weight bearing. The doctor did say 6 months from op to ride, and I will listen to what they say but would like to hear how other peoples recovery went and how soon you rode? Also did you have any problems after, or anything you would advise to do or not do?

I am 45, work with horses, so was fit and healthy.

Thanks for reading and in advance for anyone that replies.

 

[blood_magik]

Years ago… came off and landed on my feet.

I was on crutches for 3 months. Think I got back on around 5 months post-op but didn’t ride properly until around 7 months. The only issue I have is when it’s really cold as the metalwork is close to the surface. It’s been fine otherwise.

My biggest tip - Make sure you get a decent physio and follow their instructions/do your rehab exercises. Don’t push it too quickly.

 

[outdoor girl]

I had a tibial plateux fracture back in 2000 and was a similar age to you when it happened. I came off a 4 yr old I'd just backed and landed on the yard on my feet (which apparently is the worst way to land)! I was in plaster from hip to toe, for 12 weeks after surgery, with a hinge at my knee so I could keep it mobilised. I was allowed to weight bear after 8 weeks and had lots of physio when the plaster eventually came off. Luckily I had a saint of a horse which I was able to ride, so I climbed on board about 4 months later. My leg was very weak but did improve. Mounting was hard because it was my left leg, but I carried on doing the physio exercises and it did improve - very slowly. Good luck with your progress.

 

[Parrotperson]

Yep. Fracture my tibial plateau completely tore my ACL and semi tore everything else. Plus bruised meniscus. (Before you ask I fell backwards off the lowest step of a two step step ladder. I’m a dolt. )

I didn’t get any operations either for the fracture or acl tear as the doctor I saw in A&E misread the xray and sent me home saying it was just bruised. He did thankfully put me in for an MRI, a few hours after which I had a panicked phone call telling me to get back to hospital. But this was two weeks after accident so it had to heal itself!!

Anyhoo it was three months before I could do physio. And 6 months before riding. And even now if I step the ‘wrong way’ I can feel it going.

Advice from me would be to take it very steady. Follow doctor's advice but get physio as soon as you are able. Don’t rush it. Knees are funny things in my experience!!! Good luck.

 

[JOSB]

Years ago… came off and landed on my feet.

I was on crutches for 3 months. Think I got back on around 5 months post-op but didn’t ride properly until around 7 months. The only issue I have is when it’s really cold as the metalwork is close to the surface. It’s been fine otherwise.

My biggest tip - Make sure you get a decent physio and follow their instructions/do your rehab exercises. Don’t push it too quickly.

Thank you and sorry you went through this too. Its so hard when you are used to being active and also letting others see to your horses. On day at a time I guess, just dragging abit now.

 

[hc123]

I had a tibial plateau fracture after my dog ran into me at full speed in the dark. A bit older than yourself. Didn't realise I had fractured it for 3 months - it hurt like hell but I was hoping it was soft tissue and never got it checked until a physio suggested I get an MRI. I had surgery followed by physio and was back on and riding 2 months later (I was given the go ahead to do so by my surgeon). Didn't really get full range of movement back in my knee for at least 18 months after. I do still feel it even now which is 2.5 years later but nothing that causes my any major problems.

What I would say is make sure you get regular physio (I found a private physio who was far more use than NHS) and don't panic if things don't improve as fast as you want, it does take a long time.

 

[JOSB]

I had a tibial plateux fracture back in 2000 and was a similar age to you when it happened. I came off a 4 yr old I'd just backed and landed on the yard on my feet (which apparently is the worst way to land)! I was in plaster from hip to toe, for 12 weeks after surgery, with a hinge at my knee so I could keep it mobilised. I was allowed to weight bear after 8 weeks and had lots of physio when the plaster eventually came off. Luckily I had a saint of a horse which I was able to ride, so I climbed on board about 4 months later. My leg was very weak but did improve. Mounting was hard because it was my left leg, but I carried on doing the physio exercises and it did improve - very slowly. Good luck with your progress.

Thank you for your reply and sorry you went through this too. Its good to hear that I will get back to riding again though and glad you did too.

 

[JOSB]

Yep. Fracture my tibial plateau completely tore my ACL and semi tore everything else. Plus bruised meniscus. (Before you ask I fell backwards off the lowest step of a two step step ladder. I’m a dolt. )

I didn’t get any operations either for the fracture or acl tear as the doctor I saw in A&E misread the xray and sent me home saying it was just bruised. He did thankfully put me in for an MRI, a few hours after which I had a panicked phone call telling me to get back to hospital. But this was two weeks after accident so it had to heal itself!!

Anyhoo it was three months before I could do physio. And 6 months before riding. And even now if I step the ‘wrong way’ I can feel it going.

Advice from me would be to take it very steady. Follow doctor's advice but get physio as soon as you are able. Don’t rush it. Knees are funny things in my experience!!! Good luck.

Thank you for your reply, sounds terrible and I am sad to hear it bothers you now still. My husband did his ACL and meniscus motorcrossing. Will definitely follow advice thanks and have started physio so doing the exercise's every day.

 

[JOSB]

Years ago… came off and landed on my feet.

I was on crutches for 3 months. Think I got back on around 5 months post-op but didn’t ride properly until around 7 months. The only issue I have is when it’s really cold as the metalwork is close to the surface. It’s been fine otherwise.

My biggest tip - Make sure you get a decent physio and follow their instructions/do your rehab exercises. Don’t push it too quickly.

Yep. Fracture my tibial plateau completely tore my ACL and semi tore everything else. Plus bruised meniscus. (Before you ask I fell backwards off the lowest step of a two step step ladder. I’m a dolt. )

I didn’t get any operations either for the fracture or acl tear as the doctor I saw in A&E misread the xray and sent me home saying it was just bruised. He did thankfully put me in for an MRI, a few hours after which I had a panicked phone call telling me to get back to hospital. But this was two weeks after accident so it had to heal itself!!

Anyhoo it was three months before I could do physio. And 6 months before riding. And even now if I step the ‘wrong way’ I can feel it going.

Advice from me would be to take it very steady. Follow doctor's advice but get physio as soon as you are able. Don’t rush it. Knees are funny things in my experience!!! Good luck.

Thank you for your reply, sounds terrible and I am sad to hear it bothers you now still. My husband did his ACL and meniscus motorcrossing. Will definitely follow advice thanks and have started physio so doing the exercise's every day.

 

[JOSB]

I had a tibial plateau fracture after my dog ran into me at full speed in the dark. A bit older than yourself. Didn't realise I had fractured it for 3 months - it hurt like hell but I was hoping it was soft tissue and never got it checked until a physio suggested I get an MRI. I had surgery followed by physio and was back on and riding 2 months later (I was given the go ahead to do so by my surgeon). Didn't really get full range of movement back in my knee for at least 18 months after. I do still feel it even now which is 2.5 years later but nothing that causes my any major problems.

What I would say is make sure you get regular physio (I found a private physio who was far more use than NHS) and don't panic if things don't improve as fast as you want, it does take a long time.

thank you and glad you got it sorted, its good to hear people are getting back to riding. It was a real big worry for me.

 

[ImmyS]

Hi,

I did similar, had a horse fall on me. Was operated and pinned, non wait bearing for 3 months. I had the accident in September and I remember getting back ion around the following March, but probably didn’t properly ride until a couple of months after that. I had a lot of trouble and pain though until a couple of years later I discussed getting the metalwork removed. Had a second operation and had the pins removed and it was much better almost immediately, sometimes the metalwork caused more issues long term, but some people are lucky and caused no bother!

 

[JOSB]

Hi,

I did similar, had a horse fall on me. Was operated and pinned, non wait bearing for 3 months. I had the accident in September and I remember getting back ion around the following March, but probably didn’t properly ride until a couple of months after that. I had a lot of trouble and pain though until a couple of years later I discussed getting the metalwork removed. Had a second operation and had the pins removed and it was much better almost immediately, sometimes the metalwork caused more issues long term, but some people are lucky and caused no bother!

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry you went through this too. I'm hoping to get back on by March also, had the op September. I had no pain when I did it, until the op. But does seem to be OK now. I didn't know they could remove pins, although don't feel like want to go through that operation again

 

[blood_magik]

I remember how much worse it was after they repaired it - a 2, maybe a 3/10 before but a good 8-9/10 after

It will get better. Don’t overdo things and listen to your physio when you start weight-bearing.

 

[ImmyS]

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry you went through this too. I'm hoping to get back on by March also, had the op September. I had no pain when I did it, until the op. But does seem to be OK now. I didn't know they could remove pins, although don't feel like want to go through that operation again

The operation to remove the pins was actually relatively minor and just a day case, I just had to take it easy for a few days but was fully weight bearing and went about as normal! Just something to bear in mind if you struggle with long term pain.

 

[wispagold]

I did in 2010 (aged 22) after a fall eventing. I had surgery 10 days afterwards and had 2 pins.. which are still there 15 years later! I was back riding after 4 or 5 months. I remember my knee feeling very stiff for a while. It took me a long time to get back into running. I have full mobility now and no issues, other than it getting painful and stiff in cold weather if im not moving (i.e when hacking out).

Good luck with your recovery

 

[JOSB]

I did in 2010 (aged 22) after a fall eventing. I had surgery 10 days afterwards and had 2 pins.. which are still there 15 years later! I was back riding after 4 or 5 months. I remember my knee feeling very stiff for a while. It took me a long time to get back into running. I have full mobility now and no issues, other than it getting painful and stiff in cold weather if im not moving (i.e when hacking out).

Good luck with your recovery

Thank you. Thats great you are back to normal. I will get my thermals ready for winter then! Hoping today is the day they say I can filly weight bear again!

 

[JOSB]

I remember how much worse it was after they repaired it - a 2, maybe a 3/10 before but a good 8-9/10 after

It will get better. Don’t overdo things and listen to your physio when you start weight-bearing.

Thank you. Yes thats exactly what I had. I felt fine till I had the op. But starting to feel normal again now.

 

[SMcKen]

Hi, I had a tibia plateau fracture in 2009 (I was 42) which was repaired with a plate, fell off my 18hh horse SJ and landed on my feet! I was 9 weeks on crutches and then was back riding 2 or 3 weeks after that. As someone above said - get a good physio to help with strengthening and to make sure you are not moving in a way that is likely to cause more problems. Some wee niggles with my knee over the years but nothing that has stopped me riding, skiing or running etc.

 

[JOSB]

Hi, I had a tibia plateau fracture in 2009 (I was 42) which was repaired with a plate, fell off my 18hh horse SJ and landed on my feet! I was 9 weeks on crutches and then was back riding 2 or 3 weeks after that. As someone above said - get a good physio to help with strengthening and to make sure you are not moving in a way that is likely to cause more problems. Some wee niggles with my knee over the years but nothing that has stopped me riding, skiing or running etc.

Thank you. I'm sorry this happened to you too, but great that you are just able to do everything almost as you were. Its been a big worry I might not get back to it. I have facture clinic today, hoping I can full weight bear. I have been partial and its felt fine.