Fracture of the bones around the knee includes a heterogeneous group of fractures including fractures of the lower end of the thigh bone (distal femur), the kneecap (patella), and upper end of the shin bone (tibial plateau). Each fracture type presents a unique clinical problem with at least one common goal: to reconstruct the joint surface of the knee. Comminution (multiple broken pieces of bone) can be present in these fractures as well. These fractures occur in people of all ages and often require surgery.
Distal femur fractures and tibial plateau fractures cause a disruption in the weight bearing surfaces of the knee joint. The distal femur and the tibial plateau are covered with a smooth surface called articular cartilage, which allows these bones to glide over each other during normal daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, etc. A break in this surface can predispose a person to developing arthritis in the knee joint. These fractures are commonly fixed with plates and screws that hold the bones in place through the healing process. These fractures most often require a period of no weight bearing on the affected leg while the bones are healing.
Patella (kneecap) fractures are another type of fracture in the knee joint. The patella is a bone that is part of a mechanism connecting the quadriceps muscle in the thigh to the tibia (shin bone). This is known as the extensor mechanism. The patella, therefore, is an important structure for knee extension. Patella fractures are treated in a variety of ways with a goal of restoring the extensor mechanism and reconstructing the articular surface when displacement has occurred.
Fracture locations:
Hip fracture (proximal femur fracture)
Thigh fracture (femur shaft fracture)
Knee fracture (distal femur, patella, and tibial plateau fractures)
Shin fracture (tibial shaft fracture)
Ankle fracture (including pilon fracture)
Shoulder fracture (proximal humerus, and clavicle fractures)