Six years ago, I fractured my tibial plateau. It was serious enough to disrupt the joint and cause severe arthritis. Now, I need a total knee joint replacement. Will the previous bone fracture cause any problems with this new operation?
The tibial plateau is the top of the lower leg bone called the tibia. This plateau forms the bottom half of the knee joint. A fracture at this site does increase the risk of problems with a joint implant.
The fracture changes the way the leg carries the weight. This can cause uneven wear on the joint and an imbalance in the muscles. The doctor must put the implant in with these changes in mind.
If there were previous operations, there can be scar tissue formed around the knee joint. This may put the joint at risk for infection and poor wound healing.Joint stiffness and loss of motion and function can occur. Sometimes, even with careful planning and use of advanced skills, the implant doesn’t last. In this case, a second operation may be needed.
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