Radiology Review

X-Ray Goes Knee Deep

An 80-year-old woman complaining of head and right knee pain is brought to your emergency department following a motor vehicle collision. The patient was an unrestrained driver when she possibly hydroplaned and then struck another vehicle. Her medical history is significant for mild hypertension. Surgical history is significant for remote arthroplasty of her right knee. On primary survey, you note an elderly female who is slightly hard of hearing but awake, alert, and oriented. Vital signs are stable. Examination of her right knee shows a healed scar with some mild bruising and no obvious deformity. The patient has reduced range of motion, and palpation of the knee is extremely painful. You obtain a radiograph of the right knee (shown). What is your impression?


 

Answer

The radiograph shows evidence of status post arthroplasty. There are no abnormalities within the prosthesis. However, the patient has a fracture of the proximal tibia that extends into the tibial plateau, as well as a nondisplaced fracture of the proximal fibula.

The patient was admitted and orthopedics consulted.

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