eMedicine Specialties > Radiology > Musculoskeletal

Tibial Plateau Fractures: Multimedia

Author: Steven M Sorenson, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Coast Radiology Imaging and Intervention
Coauthor(s): Amilcare Gentili, MD, Clinical Professor of Radiology, University of California at San Diego; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Thornton Hospital; Sulabha Masih, MD, Associate Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, University of California at Los Angeles; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Section of Musculoskeletal Radiology, West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 24, 2007

Multimedia

Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatz...Media file 1: Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatzker types I, II, and III tibial plateau fractures. Type I consists of a wedge fracture of the lateral tibial plateau, produced by low-force injuries. Type II combines the wedge fracture of the lateral plateau with depression of the lateral plateau. Type III fractures are classified as those with depression of the lateral plateau but no associated wedge fracture.
Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatz...

Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatzker types I, II, and III tibial plateau fractures. Type I consists of a wedge fracture of the lateral tibial plateau, produced by low-force injuries. Type II combines the wedge fracture of the lateral plateau with depression of the lateral plateau. Type III fractures are classified as those with depression of the lateral plateau but no associated wedge fracture.

Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatz...Media file 2: Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatzker types IV, V, and VI tibial plateau fractures. Type IV is similar to type I fracture, except that it involves the medial tibial plateau as opposed to the lateral plateau. Greater force is required to produce this type of injury. Type V fractures are termed bicondylar and demonstrate wedge fractures of both the medial and lateral tibial plateaus. Finally, type VI fractures consist of a type V fracture along with a fracture of the underlying diaphysis and/or metaphysis.
Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatz...

Tibial plateau fractures. Line drawings of Schatzker types IV, V, and VI tibial plateau fractures. Type IV is similar to type I fracture, except that it involves the medial tibial plateau as opposed to the lateral plateau. Greater force is required to produce this type of injury. Type V fractures are termed bicondylar and demonstrate wedge fractures of both the medial and lateral tibial plateaus. Finally, type VI fractures consist of a type V fracture along with a fracture of the underlying diaphysis and/or metaphysis.

Tibial plateau fractures. Cross-table lateral rad...Media file 3: Tibial plateau fractures. Cross-table lateral radiograph of the knee shows the lipohemarthrosis within the suprapatellar bursa. The fracture itself is not seen well.
Tibial plateau fractures. Cross-table lateral rad...

Tibial plateau fractures. Cross-table lateral radiograph of the knee shows the lipohemarthrosis within the suprapatellar bursa. The fracture itself is not seen well.

Tibial plateau fractures. CT image through the ti...Media file 4: Tibial plateau fractures. CT image through the tibial plateau shows a fracture of the posterior aspect of the lateral tibial plateau, which is the source of the lipohemarthrosis.
Tibial plateau fractures. CT image through the ti...

Tibial plateau fractures. CT image through the tibial plateau shows a fracture of the posterior aspect of the lateral tibial plateau, which is the source of the lipohemarthrosis.

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through ...Media file 5: Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through the knee shows a layering lipohemarthrosis.
Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through the knee shows a layering lipohemarthrosis.

Tibial plateau fractures. MRI of the knee in a pa...Media file 6: Tibial plateau fractures. MRI of the knee in a patient with tibial plateau fracture and lipohemarthrosis. Three layers of effusion are demonstrated on this proton density sequence: fat, red blood cells, and serum. Low-signal intensity in the tibial plateau corresponds to the site of fracture.
Tibial plateau fractures. MRI of the knee in a pa...

Tibial plateau fractures. MRI of the knee in a patient with tibial plateau fracture and lipohemarthrosis. Three layers of effusion are demonstrated on this proton density sequence: fat, red blood cells, and serum. Low-signal intensity in the tibial plateau corresponds to the site of fracture.

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...Media file 7: Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows lateral plateau splitting, a Schatzker I injury. There is no articular depression.
Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows lateral plateau splitting, a Schatzker I injury. There is no articular depression.

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...Media file 8: Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows a fracture through the lateral tibial plateau with extension to the lateral tibial margin and slight depression at the articular surface. This is a Schatzker II injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows a fracture through the lateral tibial plateau with extension to the lateral tibial margin and slight depression at the articular surface. This is a Schatzker II injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. A different patient ill...Media file 9: Tibial plateau fractures. A different patient illustrates a Schatzker II injury with subtle lateral articular depression.
Tibial plateau fractures. A different patient ill...

Tibial plateau fractures. A different patient illustrates a Schatzker II injury with subtle lateral articular depression.

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through ...Media file 10: Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through the tibial shows a fracture through the lateral tibial plateau with slight diastasis between the fragments. This is a Schatzker II injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image through the tibial shows a fracture through the lateral tibial plateau with slight diastasis between the fragments. This is a Schatzker II injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image of the s...Media file 11: Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image of the same patient as Picture 10 shows the extent of the lateral tibial plateau fracture. In this case, it extends to the lateral tibial margin and an associated fibular head fracture is seen. This is a Schatzker II injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image of the s...

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image of the same patient as Picture 10 shows the extent of the lateral tibial plateau fracture. In this case, it extends to the lateral tibial margin and an associated fibular head fracture is seen. This is a Schatzker II injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. Oblique radiograph of t...Media file 12: Tibial plateau fractures. Oblique radiograph of the knee demonstrates a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau with slight depression. There is no associated wedge component. This is a Schatzker III injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Oblique radiograph of t...

Tibial plateau fractures. Oblique radiograph of the knee demonstrates a fracture of the lateral tibial plateau with slight depression. There is no associated wedge component. This is a Schatzker III injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT....Media file 13: Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT. Initial narrow collimation axial CT data can be reconstructed into sagittal and coronal planes. This technique is useful to evaluate for fracture lines parallel to the axial imaging plane, degree of articular depression, and degree of diastasis between major fracture fragments. The best reconstructions are made when the initial data set consists of axial images of less than 2 mm thickness. In this particular case, an axial data set of 1 mm images was reconstructed into this coronal image demonstrating fractures of the tibial spines.
Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT....

Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT. Initial narrow collimation axial CT data can be reconstructed into sagittal and coronal planes. This technique is useful to evaluate for fracture lines parallel to the axial imaging plane, degree of articular depression, and degree of diastasis between major fracture fragments. The best reconstructions are made when the initial data set consists of axial images of less than 2 mm thickness. In this particular case, an axial data set of 1 mm images was reconstructed into this coronal image demonstrating fractures of the tibial spines.

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...Media file 14: Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee reveals fractures through both the medial and the lateral tibial plateau along with a fibular head fracture and a fracture through the tibial metaphysis. This is a Schatzker VI injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee reveals fractures through both the medial and the lateral tibial plateau along with a fibular head fracture and a fracture through the tibial metaphysis. This is a Schatzker VI injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...Media file 15: Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows a different Schatzker VI fracture.
Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee ...

Tibial plateau fractures. Radiograph of the knee shows a different Schatzker VI fracture.

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image demonstr...Media file 16: Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image demonstrates the extensive fractures of both the lateral and medial aspects of the tibial plateau, a Schatzker VI injury.
Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image demonstr...

Tibial plateau fractures. Axial CT image demonstrates the extensive fractures of both the lateral and medial aspects of the tibial plateau, a Schatzker VI injury.

Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT....Media file 17: Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT. This image demonstrates a bicondylar fracture of the tibial plateau along with a fracture of the tibial diaphysis, a Schatzker VI fracture. Note the articular incongruity.
Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT....

Tibial plateau fractures. Coronal reformatted CT. This image demonstrates a bicondylar fracture of the tibial plateau along with a fracture of the tibial diaphysis, a Schatzker VI fracture. Note the articular incongruity.

More on Tibial Plateau Fractures

Overview: Tibial Plateau Fractures
Imaging: Tibial Plateau Fractures
Follow-up: Tibial Plateau Fractures
Multimedia: Tibial Plateau Fractures
References

References

  1. Anglen JO, Healy WL. Tibial plateau fractures. Orthopedics. Nov 1988;11(11):1527-34. [Medline].

  2. Barrow BA, Fajman WA, Parker LM, et al. Tibial plateau fractures: evaluation with MR imaging. Radiographics. May 1994;14(3):553-9. [Medline].

  3. Benirschke SK, Agnew SG, Mayo KA. Open reduction internal fixation of complex proximal tibial plateau fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 1991;5:236.

  4. Dirschl DR, Dahners LE. Current treatment of tibial plateau fractures. J South Orthop Assoc. Spring 1997;6(1):54-61. [Medline].

  5. Kode L, Lieberman JM, Motta AO. Evaluation of tibial plateau fractures: efficacy of MR imaging compared with CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Jul 1994;163(1):141-7. [Medline].

  6. Savoie FH, Vander Griend RA, Ward EF, Hughes JL. Tibial plateau fractures. A review of operative treatment using AO technique. Orthopedics. May 1987;10(5):745-50. [Medline].

  7. Watson JT. High-energy fractures of the tibial plateau. Orthop Clin North Am. Oct 1994;25(4):723-52. [Medline].

Further Reading

Keywords

bumper fracture, fender fracture, tibial fracture, broken leg, tibia fracture

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Steven M Sorenson, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Coast Radiology Imaging and Intervention
Steven M Sorenson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Amilcare Gentili, MD, Clinical Professor of Radiology, University of California at San Diego; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Thornton Hospital
Amilcare Gentili, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Skeletal Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sulabha Masih, MD, Associate Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, University of California at Los Angeles; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Section of Musculoskeletal Radiology, West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Sulabha Masih, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Skeletal Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD, Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

William R Reinus, MD, MBA, FACR, Professor of Radiology, Temple University; Chief of Musculoskeletal and Trauma Radiology, Vice Chair, Department of Radiology, Temple University Hospital
William R Reinus, MD, MBA, FACR is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physician Executives, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Missouri State Medical Association, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert M Krasny, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute
Robert M Krasny, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, EdM, Professor, Department of Radiology, Vice Chairman for Radiology Informatics, Section Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology, University of Washington
Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, EdM is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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