Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] Am recovering from a displaced lateral tibial plateau fracture on right leg. Surgery to insert a plate & to do a bone graft was planned when I was admitted at A & E on Sunday 6th Nov 2011 (injury happened on the 5th Nov ) but the orthopaedic consultant decided the next day not to operate but to treat with a full plaster cast & minimum weight bearing for 6 weeks. Am now on 5th week ... What can I expect to happen once the cast has been removed ? How soon can I get back to swimming, walking & normal day-to-day activites? Will this injury have lasting consequences? Thank you....Margaret
[|AI|]  Hello, Most of the fracture near the joints are generally operated. If fractures are not displaced or very minimally displaced then they can be treated conservatively in plaster cast. It depends on your attending doctor to take decision in your favor. The good thing is that fractures near ends of bones are in metaphysical bone which generally heal well if you are taking due precautions. Most of the tibial plateau fracture generally heal well in 6-8 weeks time. Your doctor will do frequent x-ray examination in 1-2 weeks to know the health of healing bone. After 6-8 weeks he removes plaster cast depending upon x-ray picture and apply a compression bandage or a Range of movement knee brace. Now you need good physiotherapy to mobilize your knee and ankle joint and to strengthen your muscles. This may take about 2-3 weeks time. After post injury 3-4 months you may be able to walk normally and with in 6 months you will be able to back to your normal life. Please do not worry, in most of the cases there are no lasting consequences of such injury. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.