Abstract
Background:Tibial plateau fractures are frequent injuries that orthopaedic surgeons face. It has been reported that they have a significant negative impact on the patients’ lives, decreasing their quality of live, keeping them of work for long periods of time and reducing their activity levels.Aim:Interestingly, there is not enough focus in the literature about the post-operative rehabilitation of these patients. The aim of the present review is to investigate this field of the literature and try to give answers in four main questions: the range of motion exercises post-surgery, the immobilisation, the weight-bearing status and the ongoing rehabilitation.Materials and Methods:A literature search was conducted using the PubMed and the Google Scholar search engines. A total of 39 articles met the criteria to be included in the study.Results:The literature about this subject is scarce and controversial. Early range of motion exercises should be encouraged as soon as possible after the procedure. The immobilisation after plate fixation does not seem to be correlated with any benefits to the patients. The weight-bearing status of the patients was the most controversial in the literature with the early weight-bearing gaining ground at the most recent studies. Tibia plateau fractures can have significant impact on the patients’ lives, so ongoing rehabilitation with focus on quadriceps strengthening and proprioception exercises is recommended.Conclusion:The present literature review illuminates the controversy that exists in the literature about the physiotherapy following tibia plateau fracture fixation. Early range of motion exercises and early weight bearing should be encouraged. Immobilisation does not seem to provide any benefit. Ongoing rehabilitation should be considered with the view of better clinical outcomes.
Highlights
Intra-articular fractures of the proximal tibia are commonly referred as tibial plateau fractures
The aim of this study is to review the current literature about the rehabilitation of patients who sustained a tibial plateau fracture and treated surgically, with the view to provide some guidance especially on four main subjects: the range of motion exercises of the knee joint, immobilisation, weight bearing and ongoing rehabilitation
From the articles included in the study, information was extracted about the four subjects including the range of motion of the knee joint, the immobilisation, the weightbearing status and the ongoing rehabilitation of the patients after fixation of tibia plateau fractures
Summary
Intra-articular fractures of the proximal tibia are commonly referred as tibial plateau fractures. The high-energy trauma leading to increased axial and/or torsional forces to the proximal tibia is the main causative factor for the first group of patients. The aim of the present review is to investigate this field of the literature and try to give answers in four main questions: the range of motion exercises post-surgery, the immobilisation, the weight-bearing status and the ongoing rehabilitation. The weight-bearing status of the patients was the most controversial in the literature with the early weight-bearing gaining ground at the most recent studies. Tibia plateau fractures can have significant impact on the patients’ lives, so ongoing rehabilitation with focus on quadriceps strengthening and proprioception exercises is recommended. Ongoing rehabilitation should be considered with the view of better clinical outcomes
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