Proximal tibial fracture after patellar tendon autograft for ipsilateral ACL reconstruction

Abstract

Tibial plateau fracture after patellar tendon autograft is a documented complication of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. This case report describes a 24-year-old man who sustained this injury 7 years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The patient tolerated open reduction and internal fixation of the tibial plateau. Tibial plateau fractures can occur relatively late in the recovery process after ACL reconstruction. Measures suggested to potentially reduce this complication include smaller osteotomies, use of allograft for patients with osteoporosis, and procuring the graft from the contralateral knee.