The tibia is the largest and strongest bone of the calf bones, the other being the fibula or the peroneum. The tibia connects the femur (thigh bone) with the bones of the leg. It is the bone with the highest weight resistance in the human body, along with the femur, but it is the most commonly fractured long bone in the whole body, the other long bones being:

➢ the humerus - bone of the shoulder
➢ the femur - bone of the thigh
➢ the fibula or peroneum - the second long bone of the calf

Tibial fractures occur most frequently along the length of the bone, below the knee and/or above the ankle and can be associated with other injuries.

Sometimes the tibia fractures itself and the most common cause is significant trauma to the leg, usually during the practice of a sport, but it can also fracture together with the fibula.

It is a fracture that involves the proximal portion of the tibia, a portion that extends through the surface of the articular cartilage in the knee joint. When a fracture involves the surface of the articular cartilage, that joint will later be prone to the development of arthrosis. At the level of the knee joint, the tibial plateau is lined by the cartilage and above the cartilage is the meniscus. Both the meniscus and the articular cartilage and the tibial plateau are at risk of injury, but of all, the meniscus presents the greatest risk.

Fracture of the tibial plateau is manifested by swelling of the soft tissues around the knee and by the impossibility of the knee to bear the weight of the body. Also, the knee can be deformed due to the segmentation of the tibial plateau and can be associated with hemarthrosis (blood in the soft tissues and in the knee joint).

1. Immobilization in a plastered splint
Unlike the traditional gypsum cast, the plastered splint is preferred because it can be slightly weakened or tightened, as the case may be, so that the knee does not swell more.

2. Wearing a functional orthosis, after removing the plastered splint, which also provides protection and stability, but which can be removed both to ensure hygiene and during the physical therapy program.

3. Physical therapy
➢ to speed up the healing process, the knee should not be loaded in the early stages of recovery. Initially, exercises will be performed from sitting or lying position, exercises in water and on the bike and walking will be done with the help of crutches. Along the way of the recovery process, the loading will be progressive.

The objectives of the recovery program after a tibia plateau fracture are:

➢ Facilitating walking
➢ Reducing the pressure at the level of the tibia
➢ Increasing the muscle tone lost during the immobilization period.

The entire recovery process can take between 3 and 6 months and the sports activity can be resumed after 6 months.

Surgery may be necessary in the case of complicated fractures.

➢ Be patient and give the bone the time it needs to heal properly.

➢ In periods of early recovery, leg movement is encouraged.

➢ While wearing the splint or orthosis, muscle strength may be lost in the affected area, which is why respecting the physical therapy program is important.

➢ As you start walking, use a walking frame or crutches to protect your knee and tibia.

➢ Follow the advice of therapists both for full recovery and for the prevention of relapses.