The tibial head fracture is also known medically as tibial head fracture. It is a fracture within the upper end of the tibia, usually as a result of an accident. Since this part of the tibia is involved in the knee joint, a tibial head fracture can, under certain circumstances, cause a significant impairment of the knee joint’s functionality. Depending on the type, course and extent of the fracture, different types of seriousness can be distinguished.
Causes
A tibial head fracture most often occurs in the context of traffic accidents or falls to the corresponding knee. In car accidents, such a fracture can occur when, for example, the driver’s or passenger’s knee hits the dashboard due to an impact. A harder impact on the stretched leg, for example when jumping from a greater height and landing on the stretched leg, can also lead to a fracture of the tibia head under certain circumstances. Older people are particularly at risk, as they have a lower bone density and tend to fracture more quickly when they fall.
Symptoms
A tibial head fracture causes pain in the corresponding knee joint, usually accompanied by significant swelling and overheating of the knee and upper lower leg. A bruise (hematoma) may also be present. The pain occurs immediately after the triggering event (accident, fall, etc.)
and often makes full loading of the knee impossible. There is a severe restriction of movement. An effusion is often found in the knee joint itself.
Fracture forms
There are different types of tibial head fracture. On the one hand there are the so-called plateau fractures. The tibial plateau is the upper surface of the tibia, which forms the lower part of the knee joint.
In plateau fractures, fractures occur within the tibial plateau without the bone fragments moving against each other. The tibia bone thus retains its shape, although fracture lines are present. This is in contrast to luxation fractures, where the bone fragments emerge from their original position. Due to the proximity of the knee joint, the bone fragments can enter the joint space and cause additional injury to ligaments, nerves and blood vessels. Luxation fractures are therefore more often accompanied by a complicated course than plateau fractures.
