Fractured Patella recovery time

[Gamat]

Hi all..
seems things not as we ever expected.. patella fractured.. fuhhh...
mine had this incident on the 19th sept 2011 ago.. informed..my right patella broke into two pieces. no scars watsoever on the skin side, its internal. Felt off from my bike on 140km/hr.
had a surgery. 2 screws to join back the bone.. the doc said the screw is biodegradability...and a wire around the knee..
this wire really make me sick abit.

this forum for me is cool. can motivate me. presently been off/mc for almost two months. another appointment with the doc on next 3rd dec. maybe wud ask them to remove this wire. plan to go back to work by mid dec.

God bless..

[floridanightingale]

Hi Gamat.  Welcome to kneegeeks.  I am sorry to hear about your injury, and I wish you well during your recovery.  Please keep us posted about what happens with your progress...I have never heard about a biodegradable screw and am a little jealous (but happy) for you that you seem to be on the cutting edge (no pun intended:) of possible treatement for this injury.  Please keep us posted on your journey, and best of luck on December 3rd!

R

[Bunchan]

Hello,
This is the first time to post here.  I am 54 years old female living in Connecticut. I fell at home and broke my left patella on Oct 30 and had surgery on Nov 4.  No screws, no wires.  Doctor explained that he drilled holes and tightened my knee cap with suture which does not have to be removed, so no future surgery.  Yesterday the doctor said my ROM is about 20 degrees. I will start PT next week.  The goal is 45 ROM for now.
Now my question is... when i can start commuting New York.  My commute requires driving to train station, 1 hour train ride and walk to the office for about 20 min.
Please, can anyone tell me what you think based on your experience?
Thank you!
 

[Suejs14]

Hi Bunchan - which knee?  Do you have a stick or automatic shift car?  At 6 weeks post I was able to begin weight bearing - it took a couple of weeks after that before I dropped both crutches in favor of a cane (used it for another month until my gait was acceptable to my PT).  Can you crutch for 20 (will be more like 30) minutes?  I think that stretch of your trip will be your limiting factor.  Once you're able to comfortably walk for 1/2 hour, you'll be able to return.  My conservative guess would be the first of the year - 8-9 weeks post surgery.

Good luck

Sue JS

[Bunchan]

Hi Sue,
Thank you for your quick and very helpful response!  It's my left knee and my car is automatic.  Hopefully I will be out of my knee immobilizer soon since it would be difficult to drive with it.  The night before I slept without the knee immobilizer for the first time but could not sleep well.  Realized that it's better to sleep with it for now.
I don't think I can crutch for 20 min!  I will start my PT next week, and see how much progress I can make. 
I am very happy to find this site.  Thank you again for the info!   

[Suejs14]

Hi again B -
Are you in the ankle - hip immobilizer?  It definitely is a challenge to drive with that on.  I've got an SUV and by the time I was about to switch out of it I'd figured how to get into the driver's seat (all the way back) by standing on my right leg once I was half in the car and getting the left one inside and closing the door.  You need long arms and courage (stupidity?) to drive.  Once I was in the smaller brace, driving was pretty easy -- passenger seat was still difficult for a while because it's harder to get in that side of the car with a bad left leg.

Good luck.

sue JS

[Gamat]

Hi all,
well.. went to see the doc on 3rd Dec. Thought all went good but instead got an x-ray showing off some cracks on the bone itself. Presently i can walk (not as normal but easy easy then), lift and straighten up my leg, and ROM to max 90 deg..
The doc said this due to my over exercise.. on the treadmill..! Now he banned me form driving my car and wear the brace all the time as to put back the crack to heal. Now only he said that my tendon also got repaired during the last ops. Why the doctor must be secrecy ya? He never mentioned this except for the patella only.
Another 6 weeks off/ mc. The only medication i take right now is the Gamat solution.

Regards fm Malacca, Malaysia.

[Rollerblader]

Buchanan-
You might check with the City Transit System.  Where I live, you can fill out paperwork with the transportation system that you are unable to walk to a bus stop, stand at the bus stop, etc. and they will pick you up at your house and drop you off at your destination in a small handicap accessible bus.  Is the train system and the bus system associated?  If you are on a little bus, it might be different than riding the regular city bus.  The information was available on the transit authorities website here.  If they have it available, I'm sure you would get some good stories out of the adventure!!! Haha

I'm 4 months post op and have been dismissed from PT and have 140 Rom in the mornings and I think walking 20 min at the beg of the day and the end would be hard for me some days.  The end of the day would be the hardest.  You never know till you try though...  I was off work for 3 1/2 months, but that was due to it being my right leg...  I could have gone back a week or two earlier.

Gamut- sorry to hear about your cracks : (. That stinks!  Try to stay posative!

RB

[Bunchan]

Hi all,
Sue, thanks for your info.  When did you change into your smaller brace?  I think that would help me driving.  I have to get better soon to drive my children around.
Rollerblader, that's a great info!  I will definitely look into it.  I may go back to commuting in January.  I may be ok in the morning but it could be tricky walking back to the station in the evening.
I had my first PT on Monday.  My PT said my ROM is 15.    She tought me how to practice bending, so I am doing dutifully.  Next appointment is Friday.
I am sorry to hear about your setback, Gamat.  That means I should not exercise too hard...?  What is Gamat solution btw?
B

[trimike42]

Hi All, first post for me. I'm a 55 yr old male. Was involved in a cycling accident 1st November and smashed my patella and broke my arm. Had surgery on the 8th November and have had all the hardware put in my patella and elbow. Still in my leg brace for another couple of weeks but managing to sleep with it off at night (since last week).Elbow is healing nicely.

Reading the posts in this forum has made me realise i'm in for a long rehad with my knee. No ROM yet and can't do a leg raise. Will see the OT and OS next week hopefully i will get some indication when i can start my rehab.

I have a bike tour planned for July- riding from Darwin back to Perth through the outback and national parks roughly 5000kms riding with about 30-40kgs of equipment. Do you think my knee will be ready by July It seems that the average time to get back to anywhere near a normal is about 12 months.

This is a great forum, i've learnt more from here than what my OS tells me.

Mike

[Suejs14]

B - I transitioned from the full-leg immobilizer to the brace at 6 weeks post surgery.  You're nearly there.

Aussie Mike - I'm 7 1/2 months out and figure I could have begun training for such a ride @ a month ago.  I don't know how long it would take to gain the strength and endurance for such a ride.  I think two months training is optimistic, but when you have a goal, your rehab can progress well.  You'll know more a month into rehab.  Definitely run it by your physical therapist (who will probably think you're nuts) but it can't hurt to get expert advice.  Good luck and stay the optimist.  Also - Rollerblader did her elbow & knee as well.  You may find her posts especially helpful.

Gamat - what's the "gamut solution"?  My creative mind has wild and crazy thoughts.

[trimike42]

Hi guys

Here is my 9 week post-op update.

Today i saw my physio for the first time for a few weeks and she was pleased the way i am progressing ( so am i ). My ROM id now 110 and my leg strengh is getting stronger each week. I'm still not allowed to do any "steps" as yet but i suspect that will start in a couple of week. Both my OS and physio lady are very consevative when it comes to my rehab, she actually told me off today saying i was getting ahead of myself ! I am able to ride the stationary bike if the seat is cranked quite high, i ride it 3x day for 10mins each. I know it is early days yet and i have a long way to go but making small progress really keeps me motivated with my daily execises. My knee still swells and i get slight discomfort which is worse in bed. I ice 4x day which really helps. I next see my OS on the 31 January with a new set of xrays, i'm hoping the patella will just about be healed as it will be 3 months post-op. Hoping he will give me the ok to drive and start to crank up my exercises. I understand this is a 12 month rehab journey but i'm secretley hoping i will be back out ridin on my road bike by june/July. As for Running just hoping that will happen.

Things are looking good......

Mike

[ozski32]

Hi everyone,

I've been trying to gain some insight on my progress- I too have fractured my patella; three pieces, surgery with the figure eight. I guess I'll add that I've had ACL and meniscus surgery on both of my knees as well. I'm a very active 24 year old female... apparently with bad knee luck.

So, I'm curious- after my surgery, my doctor had me in a straight brace for a week; I started PT 11 days after that. Has anyone started PT that early after their surgery with the figure eight? I also have been in a CPM machine (the machine that bends and straightens your knee for you) since the first day of therapy. Here is my frustration- I am 3 1/2 weeks out, 2 weeks from therapy and I have been trying to bend my knee all day everyday to the point of insanity. I measured to 70 degrees today with the force of my therapists... but my doctor is threatening to knock me out and bend it for me if I don't crank up the degrees!!!

Reading these posts has helped me so much mentally. This injury truly seems to rob you of everything short sighted. I just passed the "3 week dark days" period, but now I'm stressed that my doctor is going to put me under and manipulate my knee for me. Has anyone had such trouble bending that their doctors have to put you under and do it for you? And, does anyone think that I'm that far behind?  

This injury blows and I'm sick of being depressed and clueless over it. Hope to hear some feedback, thanks! 

[floridanightingale]

Ozski,
First of all, I am genuinely sorry about your injury and welcome you to kneegeeks:)  Second of all, did I drink too much wine tonight or am I reading that you are 3.5 weeks post ORIF, at 70 degrees ROM, working your butt off, and your OS is threatening an MUA???  My surgeon was super aggressive compared to most I have read about on these boards, but yours make him look like a kitten.  Your doctor needs to chillax--it sounds like you are bionic compared to most of us!!!  Seriously, do not worry at all. If you are at 70 now, you are way (WAY) ahead of the game. Your doctor needs to chill, unless really, you are a super hero or bionic woman and you failed to disclose that in your post.  I don't remember all the dates (I am 9 months post-accident now) but I was in an immobilizer for about 12 days, and started PT at about 6 weeks. I gained full ROM pretty quickly, after some hurdles and periods of complete stagnation. It took me getting my HW to feel good again, but some people don't have HW issues, and you very well may be in that camp.  Seriously, it sounds like you are doing GREAT. You are well ahead of the healing curve. Keep it up and you will be just fine, no doubt. 

[ozski32]

FloridaNightingale,

Thanks so much for the prompt reply! And yes!! I'm only 3 1/2 weeks out. I see the doctor every week and my PT three times a week... either I'm being to hard on myself or they think I could do better, but I swear everyone seems borderline disappointed by the end of my visits! Oh the frustration- I can't imagine not starting PT until six weeks post op- kudos.

Either way, I'm coming off pain meds so the idea of having my ROM getting better seems even more far fetched. You said you had periods of stagnation... did it take anything more than just trying to push it a little everyday? Aside from the bending, I am happy with my muscle strength so far. I have been able to do all of my leg raises for a week or so with no assistance. It doesn't look like much muscle but it feels more stable. I cannot wait to walk again.

I'll post after my next PT appt on Monday. Maybe I'll prescribe my doctor a chillpill and try not to go crazy. Thanks again!