The tibial head fracture is a fracture of the tibia in its upper part, i.e. near the knee. Typically, such a fracture is caused by an accident-related application of force to the tibia itself. The exact pattern of the fracture varies depending on the circumstances of the accident.
Depending on the type of fracture, the whole thing is then either treated with a plaster cast or surgically. As already mentioned, the tibial head fracture is usually caused by the application of force. This can be caused by direct mechanical forces acting on the tibia or by landing on the legs in the event of a fall from a great height.
However, as with all bone fractures, internal causes such as osteoporosis or a bone tumor are also conceivable. In these cases, the bone substance becomes so unstable and porous that a fracture can occur with even minimal external stress. Far more common, however, is the traumatic cause.
Typical examples include impact injuries to the dashboard in a car accident, but also direct impacts. Landing on the stretched leg can also cause a tibial head fracture. Not even particularly high heights are necessary for this. Even jumping down a few steps or the like, can cause a fracture if the landing is unfavorable.
Diagnosis
The basis of the diagnosis is a detailed examination of the knee joint. Special attention should be paid to the extent to which the stability of the ligaments and other structures is maintained or affected. Since some muscles and tendons are also attached to the head of the tibia, their function may be affected by a fracture or further strain on the muscles may aggravate the complaints.
Subsequently, every time a tibial head fracture is suspected, an X-ray image is taken in 2 planes. Since this usually only confirms the presence of a fracture, but the injury can only be roughly estimated, an additional CT scan may be necessary. In the case of suspected more severe soft tissue damage, an MRI may also be helpful to assess possible ligament injuries.
Imaging can also be used to further subdivide the patient into different types of fractures. Depending on the pattern of the accident, it may also be necessary to exclude the possibility of injury to vessels in the area surrounding the injury. This can be done with the help of a simple ultrasound, for example.
All articles in this series:
