ORIF Tibial Plateau Fracture Post-op Normal ROM Questions

[VolFan0927]

A quick 6 mo update on my wifes TPF and Meniscus repair. She has switched to a sports oriented PT 3 weeks ago, and added pool therapy, weekly massage to her PT. Most of the PT emphasize on what she can do at home (heal slides, leg lifts, sit stands, and alternating balance between legs.) and gentle manipulation/massage/release for very tight muscles (from being NWB for 3 mo). She continues to use a walker and cane. We use the wheel chair on very long transports. Her biggest challenge is quad strength and now her ankle swells with regular activity. She manages to shuffle around the home without cane, but it is a short shuffle and she is trying to focus on proper gait mechanics as she strengthens her leg. I will post her ROM gains each subsequent mo, as they have been slow to return, but she is determined to have ROM return to her 150 flexion pre injury level. Extension is around 0-1 right now. We will see surgeon for 6.5 mo followup in a few weeks.

1 mo 75
2 mo 88
3 mo 95
4 mo 106
5 mo 112
6 mo 126

 

[VolFan0927]

Time for another update. My wife is 8.5 mo postop from her tibial plateau fracture/meniscus repair surgery. The last two months have been slow but steady. She is currently in PT/massage therapy including 1 pool session a week. She has added Pilates reformer occasionally. She was non weight bearing in a wheel chair the fist 3 mo post surgery. She hit 130 degrees flexion this week in PT (-3 extension) and is walking between 4000-5000 steps daily, although with a cane and limp. She managed her fist session of leg presses this week. Her thigh muscle has improved (was completely atrophied) but her hamstrings are still pretty much under developed. She had lost weight and is now within 3 pounds of her pre injury weight. Her focus is on continued strength, and working to get rid of the limp. Her goals are 135 degrees flexion, walking without limp, and driving by 1 yr post surgery.

ROM/Flexion progression below

1 mo 75
2 mo 88
3 mo 95
4 mo 106
5 mo 112
6 mo 126
7 Mo No change
8.5 Mo 130

 

[liam2015]

I've been thinking about your wife and I was just now going to look you up to see how you both were doing. That's fantastic news that she is doing so well ~ sounds like very helpful physio therapy she's having. How is she getting those 4000 steps ~ walking outdoors and in the house through the day or on a treadmill? Excellent progress.

I'm having a similar issue with limping, probably due to a weakened thigh and hamstrings. My thigh is still painful when I walk or do stairs with alternate legs, still hanging on tightly to handrails ~ going upstairs is harder. How is your wife managing stairs?

I'll do an update on my page soon ~ had a bit of a setback a couple of times.

 

[VolFan0927]

Thanks @liam2015. Sorry to hear you had a few set backs. My wife wears her fitbit watch to track her steps, but tries to be active around the home daily. We also try to leave 1-2x a day, and our garage walk there and back is about 200 steps. She still has to alternate between cane and roller with wheels, which is a little frustrating. Her limp has been a point of angst, but we believe it is a matter of time and building back strength. She handled 2 steps at an appointment ok yesterday. She is doing treadmill walking in the pool (floor of pool is treadmill) to help her gain strength the most, and her surgeon at the 6 mo visit recommended she do that multi times a week if possible. I can't over state the importance of massage therapy with this type of injury, as my wife's IT band, and hip really benefit. We also found her opposite leg needed regular massage to loosen up, as she over compensated with it during her recovery. Her hip was out of balance due being immobile for so long, and the massage therapy along with daily walking is slowly improving that. I still think this will take 1.5 - 2 yrs to recover from, and we are 8.5 months in now. How has your recovery fared?