Knee

What It Is

A fracture in the shinbone just below the knee is called a proximal tibia fracture. The proximal tibia is the upper part of the bone, where it widens to help form the knee joint. Besides the broken bone, the soft tissues (skin, muscle, nerves, blood vessels and ligaments) might also be injured when the fracture occurs. Both the soft-tissue injuries and the broken bone have to be treated together. In many cases, surgery is needed to restore strength, motion and stability to the leg and to reduce the risk of arthritis developing later (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Young people often get these fractures from a high-energy injury, such as a fall from a height, a sports injury or a car accident. Older people with weaker bones (for example, from osteoporosis) can get them from a simple fall from standing (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia Anatomy

The knee joint forms where the femur (thigh bone) meets the shin bone (tibia). The patella (kneecap) sits in front of the joint, and the fibula (the thinner bone on the outer side of the lower leg) sits alongside the tibia. The flat top of the tibia is called the tibial plateau. It has two rounded parts, called condyles, one on the inner side and one on the outer side. The rounded ends at the bottom of the femur are called the femoral condyles.

When a fracture runs into the knee joint and breaks the surface of the tibial plateau, it is called a tibial plateau fracture (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). These fractures happen when a force drives the lower end of the thigh bone into the softer bone of the tibial plateau, which can leave part of the joint surface pushed down (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

How Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia are Treated

Your surgeon will decide on the best treatment for your fracture. The options below are described so you know what they are.

Treatments your surgeon may discuss with you

Options outside my scope

Cast or brace: some fractures are treated without surgery, using a cast or brace along with limits on knee movement and weight bearing (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
External fixation: if the soft tissues around the fracture are badly damaged, or you are not yet well enough for a bigger operation, metal pins or screws are placed in the thigh bone and shin bone and attached to a bar outside the skin to hold the bones in position until you are ready for surgery (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Internal fixation: an operation in which the bone pieces are put back into position and held with a rod inside the bone or with plates and screws. If the joint surface has been pushed down, the surgeon may lift the pieces back up and fill the gap underneath with bone graft or another material to stop the bone collapsing (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the areas that work overtime while your leg is protected
Help with swelling, stiffness and scars, within your surgeon's limits
Setting up walking aids, and rebuilding strength once your surgeon allows

Tips

To avoid any problems with the leg, it is important that you follow your surgeon's instructions for putting weight on the leg.
Full weight bearing is usually not allowed until some healing has occurred, which may take 3 months or more. In the meantime you will need crutches, a walker or a wheelchair, and your surgeon will tell you how much weight you can put through the leg (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2025).
If the bone broke into many pieces, or the bone is weak, it may take longer to heal and longer before you are allowed to start moving the knee (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Follow your surgeon's directions on when you can begin moving your knee, to prevent joint stiffness.
When you are allowed to put weight on the leg, it will often feel weak, unsteady and stiff. This is normal, but do tell your doctor and me about any concerns (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Do the exercises your physiotherapist prescribes to keep the knee moving, prevent stiffness and rebuild strength (King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, 2025). Once your surgeon agrees, I can support these exercises with hands-on work and strengthening. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

Treatment

My Approach

A broken shinbone needs protecting while it heals, but a knee kept still too long gets stiff, swollen and weak. Your surgeon decides how much weight you can put through the leg and when you can move the knee. I work inside those limits, and if your fracture was treated with surgery or stops your normal daily activities, I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

While It's Protected

Easing the other leg, hips and low back, and your shoulders if you're using crutches or a walker
Gentle lymphatic drainage for swelling
Keeping the hip, ankle and toes moving, as your surgeon allows
Setting up crutches or a walker and practising walking with them

Once Your Surgeon Allows More

Hands-on work for the thigh and calf, with no heat over metal implants, and scar work once healed
Pain-free knee movement, with gentle joint mobilisation only once the bone has healed
Gait training, balance and leg strength, building to stairs and later gym work or sport

If your calf becomes very swollen and painful, or your foot goes pale, cool or numb, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While your leg is protected, visits are usually short and about weekly; later, once or twice a week, then spacing out. Full weight bearing often takes 3 months or more, longer if the bone broke into many pieces or is weak, following your surgeon's plan.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Surgeon's Limits

Compensation Relief

Swelling Control

Knee Mobility

Return to Walking

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

After an injury to the knee, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital if:

the knee looks deformed or out of place
the foot looks pale or feels cool, which can mean the blood flow to the foot is affected
there is numbness or pins and needles around the foot
the calf becomes very swollen and painful – severe swelling can cut off the blood supply to the muscles and nerves (compartment syndrome), which is a medical emergency
bone is sticking out through the skin, or there is a wound over the break (an open fracture)

(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.)

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Fractures of the proximal tibia (shinbone). OrthoInfo. Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/fractures-of-the-proximal-tibia-shinbone/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (2025) Tibial plateau fracture: physiotherapy information for patients, relatives and carers. Leaflet PL1250.1. Available at: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/4509-Tib-Plat-final-draft-v3_FINAL.pdf (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooKnee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia

What It Is

Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia are Treated

Treatments your surgeon may discuss with you

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Surgeon Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooKnee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia

What It Is

Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

How Knee Fractures of the Proximal Tibia are Treated

Treatments your surgeon may discuss with you

Tips

My Approach

While It's Protected

Once Your Surgeon Allows More

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to Get Emergency Help

References

Related Conditions

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Reconstruction

Baker's Cyst

Blount's Disease

Bowed Legs

Book a session