Anna Fändriks: Tibial plateau fractures can lead to long-term challenges
The findings in this dissertation show that tibial plateau fractures in the knee joint can lead to long-term challenges. Both motion analysis and patient interviews point to lingering issues up to two years after the injury. The focus has been on evaluating gait function as well as patients’ experiences of the rehabilitation process.
ANNA FÄNDRIKS
Dissertation defense: 17 October 2025 (click for details)
Doctoral thesis: On tibial plateau fractures: Gait function and patient experiences
Research area: Orthopaedics
Sahlgrenska Academy, The Institute of Clinical Sciences
A tibial plateau fracture is a knee fracture that affects one of the body’s most weight-bearing joint surfaces. Some patients experience persistent problems long after the injury, which creates challenges for both the patient and the healthcare provider.
“When I was working at the Department of Physiotherapy at Mölndal Hospital, we noticed that some patients with this type of fracture had difficulty regaining their previous level of activity and function,” says Anna Fändriks, a physiotherapist specialized in orthopedics and a doctoral student at the Institute of Clinical Sciences.
At the same time, there was surprisingly little documented in the scientific literature. This made the subject particularly interesting to explore further and became the starting point for her doctoral research.
Deeper understanding of the challenges
A deeper understanding of the challenges involved in recovery after tibial plateau fractures of the knee has been the main goal of Anna Fändriks’ dissertation.
“One of the studies is an interview study where patients share their experiences after the fracture. Two of the studies objectively examine gait function using our three-dimensional motion analysis system. The fourth study focuses on measurement reliability within this system, to ensure that the data can be trusted in both clinical practice and research.”
Serious injury with a high need for support
The results show that three-dimensional motion analysis is a reliable method for measuring knee flexion and extension during walking, although it tends to underestimate the degree of actual knee flexion. Still, it provides valuable information about knee function in motion.
“We also confirmed that rehabilitation takes a long time, with improvements continuing up to two years after the injury. This was evident both in patients’ questionnaire responses and in the motion analysis results. However, the ability to improve knee mobility seems greatest during the first six months after the injury.”
Patients described the injury as severe and called for more support during rehabilitation. In general, contact with a physiotherapist was highlighted as particularly positive.
Important that results benefit patiens
What has been the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your doctoral project?
“It has been rewarding that my research was based on a clinically grounded question, with the ambition that the results will benefit patients. I am grateful to have been part of the entire research process – from study design and ethics application to data collection, analysis, and publication. The hardest part has been finding enough time and being able to fully immerse myself in all the new aspects of this field, especially in terms of methodology.”
Text: Susanne Lj Westergren
The cover illustration is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man (from 1492*). Here it connects to the method of gait and motion analysis. The gears in the skeleton’s head symbolize the psychological challenges patients face after the injury.
On the right and left sides of the central illustration are images of tibial plateau fractures – type B fractures to the left and type C fractures to the right. The image was created by Anna Fändriks, with the central illustration generated in Microsoft Copilot and fracture illustrations by Pontus Andersson (Pontus Art Production).
* Read more about Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man on Wikipedia