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Author Topic: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures  (Read 742 times)

Offline Kneecandy

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Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« on: July 01, 2012, 04:43:25 AM »
I am really new to this.. June 16 I had a motorcycle accident , was hit from the side by another bike that was going about 50mph. Point of impact was my left knee.. The hospital I was taken to sta balized me, & put extrnal Fixatiors from my lower shin to the side of left thigh.. The soft tissue damage and swell is so bad that I've been sent home to wait on swelling to subside... I have a type 6 TPF with my tibia shattered halfway to my ankle. My knee cap for sure is fragments ad the knee was cave completely i. I am entirely immobile with 4 huge screws drilled into my bones til my surgery beginning of July.. They rufuse to discuss my knee, too much damage to know if I have enuf left to save till they open me up.. So I lay in extreme pAin and wait 7 more days, the muscule spasms are horrible, & they tell me it mIght not be savable still... I'm a  34 yr old single supporting mother of two kids & I've been told I may lose my leg or if I'm lucky get 50% of my mobility back... I'm scared , I'm hurt, and I'm glad I found this board on the web.
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6/16/12 motorcycle accident TPF #6
6/16/12  surgery external fixator
7/2/12.    Surgery 2 plates, 8 screws, bone graft NWB
7/19/12   56staples out, thigh to toe cast NWB
8/2/12.    Cast off, brace w/rom set @30 NWB
9/20/12.  WBAT
10/2/12.   PT / driving 60 rom
11/15/12  80 Rom, Rabat, cane

Offline Kneecandy

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2012, 05:04:37 AM »
I am awaiting surgery Monday to put the shattered pieces of my TPF back togather & find out if I have any part of a knee left.. This week of sitting home completely immobile with this erector set & screws my leg has Been hard me. Just thus morning I noticed that one of my external fixatiors seem lose and moves a little, as a result, the few times moving to go to the bathroom has intensified the pain.. My ankle & foot is harder to move & shakes uncontrollable when I try, I can't even wiggle three of my toes and it feels like they aren't there.. On a positive note, the swelling has gone down to a point that I have an indenting where my knee is suppose to be.
I'm very nervous about the surgery. I'll b glad for the plates & screws because feeling the broken pieces of bone move around everytime a muscle or tendon twitches is very unnerving & painful. I was told that I will need about 4 pints of blood for the surgery & they will have to use some cadaver bones to replace some of mine, the doctors refuse to discuss the tendons, ligament & nerves at this time telling me they won't know until they have opened it up.. Has anyone else had to wait two weeks for surgery? I know I am very lucky they have not amputated the leg yet & two of my eight surgeons have suggested it would b easier if they did. I know after surgery will b painful, as well as PT, but sitting here for two weeks with externAl fixator to hold the leg from collapsing has been beyond pAinful. They gave me very light pain meds so my tolerAnce to the meds will not b high after surgery when I will need them.. I feel like my entire life has been ripped away in these last 14 days.
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6/16/12 motorcycle accident TPF #6
6/16/12  surgery external fixator
7/2/12.    Surgery 2 plates, 8 screws, bone graft NWB
7/19/12   56staples out, thigh to toe cast NWB
8/2/12.    Cast off, brace w/rom set @30 NWB
9/20/12.  WBAT
10/2/12.   PT / driving 60 rom
11/15/12  80 Rom, Rabat, cane

Offline jpalen

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2012, 05:15:32 AM »
Kneecandy,
Really sorry to hear about your knee. I was in an external fixator to let the swelling go down after my motorcycle accident also. My insurance company declined surgery for cost and shopped til they found a cheaper doctor. I had the fixator on my leg for 14 weeks. I lost all the muscle mass in the leg. The wait was so lon the bones knitted where they were and thats what I'm stuck with. My screws never came loose ( I talked them into keeping the fixator and the screws ). That would be unnerving.
I can't run or jump and don't have range of motion I used to but I can work for now. Doc says I'll need a total knee replacement in a few years. Hope your surgery goes well and you can avoid all of this. :-\
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TPF October 3, 2010
External Fixator Oct 4, 2010
Remove External Fixator Jan10, 2011

Offline Kneecandy

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2012, 05:32:36 AM »
Thanks for the good wishes, how long did it take you to be able to do something simple like go to the bathroom alone? I can't even get out of bed by myself with this contraption on. Did ever manage to get back on a motorcycle after healing.. I know I shouldn't b worried about that but I want to 'get back on the horse that threw me' ! Doc said 4-6 months NWB post op & then I can start PT.. I'm kinda worried about losing muscle & the unresponsiveness of my foot.. I have been trying to keep moving it but it seems to get weaker everydAy
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6/16/12 motorcycle accident TPF #6
6/16/12  surgery external fixator
7/2/12.    Surgery 2 plates, 8 screws, bone graft NWB
7/19/12   56staples out, thigh to toe cast NWB
8/2/12.    Cast off, brace w/rom set @30 NWB
9/20/12.  WBAT
10/2/12.   PT / driving 60 rom
11/15/12  80 Rom, Rabat, cane

Offline jpalen

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2012, 07:57:57 PM »
I was able to slide on and off my wheelchair onto the toilet and maneuver my leg onto the bath tub edge from the beginning. Got good at it after 14 weeks. Do your best to exercise, wiggle toes try to flex the calf, anything you can do will slow down the muscle loss. I did get back on my dirt bike and ride, but have since sold it. I am looking for another one with electric start and lower seat. Can't ride like I did, but I can still ride. I wear my brace when I ride in case I have to plant my leg hard.
I am currently moving and will be disconnecting the computer today for a couple of days but I'll try to check in from work if I get a chance. When is your surgery scheduled?
Keep up the spirits. Your attitude is 80% of your healing, and the doctors do a little bit. Praying for a quick recovery for you.
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TPF October 3, 2010
External Fixator Oct 4, 2010
Remove External Fixator Jan10, 2011

Offline Lottiefox

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2012, 09:33:06 PM »
Kneecandy

I can't offer anything specific on your injury but it sounds like you're having a horrific time. I hope the surgery on Monday is successful and you get some answers....I have friends who ride bikes and they too would want to get back on the horse. I know someone through my work who broke just about every bone he had when he was hit on his motorbike in Cornwall. Two years on, he rode again and still does. Its a long road and you have some tough times ahead. Your attitude is already really positive. You might want to start a Post op diary in the Diary section - more people tend to flick around there and you might get someone else who can offer specific help.

hang in there, you're a tough cookie. Keeping fingers crossed for Monday. Are you UK based?

Lottie x
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Bilateral patella OA since 2009, no surgeries.
Euflexxa working well x3 to current
Right forefoot CRPS post fusion surgery 2011
Refusing to let the ailing parts stop me....

Offline Kneecandy

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2012, 12:52:38 AM »
I'm in Louisiana, USA... not the best medical in the world but got hooked up with one of the top ten teaching hospitals in the country.. Very qualified doctors.. I'm trying to stay positive , the emotional ups & downs are awful, usually I can laugh at myself but every now & then something as small as my pit bull crying to go outside & I can't get up to open the door for him tears me up.. :'( just 10 hours til surgery.. I'm so nervous,
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6/16/12 motorcycle accident TPF #6
6/16/12  surgery external fixator
7/2/12.    Surgery 2 plates, 8 screws, bone graft NWB
7/19/12   56staples out, thigh to toe cast NWB
8/2/12.    Cast off, brace w/rom set @30 NWB
9/20/12.  WBAT
10/2/12.   PT / driving 60 rom
11/15/12  80 Rom, Rabat, cane

Offline maryc

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2012, 04:04:43 AM »
KneeCandy - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. post an update when you can.
Sending healing rays your way
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8/4/07 fell
8/5 diagnosed TPF
8/6 surgery plate and 6 screws
8/12 out of hospital NWM
8/21 staples removed
9/18 OS appt - WBAT with crutches
10/10 - WBAT with cane
10/27 - back to work w/cane
12/26 - no cane, slight limp when tired
1/25/08 - released from PT, no limp
2/3/09 - Released by OS

Offline Lottiefox

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Re: Type 6 tibial plateau fractures
« Reply #8 on: July 03, 2012, 01:31:51 PM »
Kneecandy

How did things go? Hope you're doing OK. Sending healing hugs too,

Lottie  :)
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Bilateral patella OA since 2009, no surgeries.
Euflexxa working well x3 to current
Right forefoot CRPS post fusion surgery 2011
Refusing to let the ailing parts stop me....
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