Knee — Tibial Spine Avulsion Fracture Repair

Saint Louis University (SLUCare)

Weight-Bearing

TTWB wks 0-2; PWB wks 3-4; WBAT wks 5-6; brace 8 weeks total

Key Restrictions

Brace locked in full extension for ambulation and sleeping wks 0-4; brace in extension for WB wks 5-6; unlock brace 30 deg increments every 3-4 days wks 7-8; DC brace after wk 8; sleep with brace locked for 3 weeks; SLR with brace in full extension until no extension lag

Timeline & Phases

Phase I (wks 0-6): protect fixation, TTWB then PWB then WBAT, AAROM/AROM wk 2, ROM 0-90 by wk 3 and 0-125 by wk 6, quad sets/hamstring curls/heel slides/SLR; Phase II (wks 7-12): unlock brace 30 deg increments, stationary bike, CKC ext exercises, weight-bearing gastroc stretch, proprioception; Phase III (wks 13-18): straight-ahead running after wk 12, mini-wall squats, lateral lunges, step-ups, hip abd/add, short-arc leg press, cardiovascular/endurance, agility; Phase IV (5-6 mo): return to sport

Notes

SLU Sports Medicine; diagnosis: tibial spine avulsion fracture; total 8 weeks brace; sleep brace locked 3 weeks; 4-month protocol 2-3 visits/week