Tibia Osteochondral Fracture
A Tibial Osteochondral Fracture is an injury to the cartilage which lines the end of the Tibia bone where it meets the Talus to form the ankle joint.
Symptoms of a Tibial Osteochondral Fracture
- Sudden pain when twisting the ankle.
- Loss of normal ankle function and movement.
- Pain on weight bearing.
- Tenderness around the ankle.
- Pain on moving the ankle, especially in extremes of movement.
- Rapid swelling.
- Possible deformity.
- Clicking or creaking in the ankle.
Osteochondral fractures at the ankle more commonly occur on the upper surface of the Talus bone.
Injuries to the articular cartilage are often not easily picked up and have very similar symptoms to an ankle sprain. Even an X-ray to check for fractures may not pick up the osteochondral injury.
For this reason, most ostechondral fractures are not diagnosed until the ankle continues to cause problems when trying to return to sport or activity.
Treatment
Immediate treatment should consist of:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression
- Elevation
- Seek medical attention asap!
Further treatment may include:
- An X-ray or MRI scan to determine the nature and extent of the injury.
- Minor injuries may be treated conservatively - i.e. without surgery.
- This may consist of a period of immobilisation, followed by a rehabilitation program to restore full movement and strength.
- Surgery may be required to remove the fractured fragments of cartilage.
