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Author Topic: 8 weeks on from TPF surgery, MCL pain?  (Read 435 times)

Offline huntsman34

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8 weeks on from TPF surgery, MCL pain?
« on: September 06, 2012, 08:19:11 AM »
Hi guys,

New to this board.

I had my TPF a couple of months ago, basically split the tibia down the middle lengthways.
2 surgeries and 8 weeks later and the xrays looked good.

The depression, which was filled with graft has taken well and the plate (+9 screws) has held the bond together nicely.
I've been given the go ahead to bear weight 25% and to recover as much ROM as possible, which is going well even if the stiffness is stubborn as hell.
I think I can get 1 degree a day to get myself to around 140-150 by the next appointment (6 weeks time).

I've been doing physio work a lot and exercising the leg as instructed a few times a day.


The concern I have is that since I am now weight bearing slightly, I have been very gently seeing how mobile the joint is... when applying a valgus force, the inner side of the knee is very painful.
The physio did a stress test on the MCL and it was painful also.

Is this kind of MCL pain normal?

The doctors haven't been too forthcoming about the ligaments, saying things like, "The x rays all look good" or "I'm sure they're all right [the ligaments]... it's uncommon to hurt them in this kind of injury"...


I am worried that my MCL is damaged and will prevent recovery of stability post rehab (I should be walking fully in another 6-8 weeks).


Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Cheers,

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Offline MSD

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Re: 8 weeks on from TPF surgery, MCL pain?
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2012, 02:30:01 PM »
I assume your surgeon was talking about the cruciates, which are much more critical. Assuming that you broke the anterior side of the tibia, injury to the MCL is to be expected. Mine certainly was seriously damaged. The good news is that the MCL usually heals by itself, unlike the cruciates, which don't.

You may or may not be left with some some residual instability. My knee is definitely less stable post-TPF, but after buildiing up strength and by using a knee support (I have three different ones, each used for different purposes!) I can still do most things that I want, including skiing. So at this stage I wouldn't be too concerned.

Mark
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15/03/2011 TPF type 2 skiing accident
17/03/2011 operation, plate and 7 screws
31/03/2011 stitches out, ROM 10/45
28/04/2011 ROM 0/140, PWB allowed
20/05/2011 full ROM
25/05/2011 FWB

Offline huntsman34

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Re: 8 weeks on from TPF surgery, MCL pain?
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2012, 08:45:54 AM »
Thanks for the feedback MSD, much appreciated.

I saw my consultant last night and he told me that it is very likely that the MCL is partially torn, but since there was nothing to be done about it whilst the bone was destroyed and (as you rightly said) the MCL will heal over time they did not bother repairing during the Op.

He tested my knee for lateral stability and it seems to be basically the same as the good knee so the prognosis is fairly good.

I think I'm just going to give it 2 years wearing a brace during exercise then the private cover kicks in and I can get it looked at without the NHS.

They have done a hell of a job, but they are trying to bankrupt me making appointments during the working days!
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