Kate Gosselin has had a ruff week.
The nurse and former reality TV star revealed Tuesday that she was hospitalized after suffering a “life-altering” injury during a game of fetch with her two German Shepherds.
“In terms of rating pain…I’ve had kidney stones and this literally rates up there,” Gosselin, 50, said in a TikTok live session. “I was screaming and making the craziest noises.”
Once at the emergency room, X-rays and a CAT scan revealed that the mother of eight had sustained a tibial plateau fracture when her dog, Meika, ran into her leg at full speed.
Gosselin later underwent a three-hour surgery to fix the break, which left her with “plates and screws” in her leg and unable to “bear weight for the next three months.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the injury that had the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” alum asking fans to keep her in their prayers.
What is a tibial plateau fracture?
It’s a break in the flat upper section of the tibia, the bone running from your knee to your ankle.
This area plays a vital role in bearing your body’s weight. Fractures in the area can significantly impact your knee’s alignment, stability and movement, according to Medscape.
On top of the bone break, these injuries often involve damage to the surrounding soft tissues — including tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels — which can complicate recovery.
How do people get them? How common are they?
Tibial plateau fractures typically result from major trauma, such as car crashes and sports injuries.
However, for those with weakened bones — like people with osteoporosis — even a simple fall can cause the break.
The injury is rare, accounting for just 1% of all fractures in the general population and 8% among older adults, according to a 2022 study.
The same study found that the average age of patients with this kind of fracture is 52.6 years, with men more likely to be affected than women.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms can vary but often start with pain that ranges from mild to severe, depending on how serious the fracture is.
This is usually accompanied by swelling, tenderness and discoloration around the knee. Patients may also experience limited motion, difficulty bearing weight on the leg and sometimes a visible deformity or bump.
How is it treated?
The severity of these fractures can vary from a small crack to a shattered bone. The treatment approach depends on how bad the injury is and the strength of your joints.
For minor fractures, treatment might involve wearing a hinged knee brace and using a walker or crutches for eight to 12 weeks, according to Kaiser Permanente.
But most people need surgery, in which surgeons use plates and screws to hold the bone pieces together. In some cases, a total joint replacement is necessary.
If there’s significant soft tissue damage alongside the fracture, surgery is typically delayed until those tissues heal.
After surgery, physical therapy plays a key role in restoring strength, flexibility and mobility to the knee. Recovery typically takes three to four months.
“That really sucks,” Gosselin said about the long recovery following her surgery. “I hate to think about it.”
