Question: Hi,
My name is XXXXXXX 3 months ago (26th April) I fell down and fractured my tibia. I was diagnosed as follows

Comminuted fracture of superior end plate of lateral condyle of tibia (left leg).

I was wearing a cast for 3 weeks and was in no weight bearing for 12 weeks.
After that the doctor took an X ray and confirmed that the fracture is healing and advised partial weight bearing (not more than 35 kgs).
I have been doing physiotherapy for the last 6 weeks (active knee exercises and knee strengthening), with partial weight bearing walking.

When I do physiotherapy like quadriceps, I feel knuckle cracking on my knee or knee joints.
I want to know if this is abnormal or normal.
If it is abnormal, does it signify any problem, if yes what problem
Should I discontinue physiotherapy

I dont feel any pain and I feel a lot of improvement in bending my knee since doing physiotherapy.

I can upload my x-ray pictures if needed.

Kindly help

Hi Doctor,
Thanks for your response. There is no pain when the crackling noise comes. But occasionally, when I do exercises there is some amount of pain, this pain does not sustain and goes away when I continue physiotherapy.

For example, after some weeks of exercises I was recommended to wear ankle weights (not more than 2 KGs) and continue with the same exercises.
When I wear weights and lift my leg, there is some (bearable) pain but after 2 or 3 times I do the same exercises, the pain goes away and it is normal.

So when I do it first time for the day there is some pain (very negligible and completely bearable)

My major concern is the crackling noise, as it never came when there was excessive swelling. Now I can see the swelling has reduced (not completely gone, but reduced), and these crackling noise comes, thats why I was concerned.

Please let me know what will be your suggestion

Continue physiotherapy with 2kg weight despite the small amount of pain or do it without any weights.

Please let me know, if on a healing bone, for some reasons the bone cracks further, will it cause pain?

Thank you so much again for your assistance again.
Last time the conversation with you was very helpful to me, and I am hoping to get some advise this time also
XXXXXXX

Hi Doctor,
Thanks again for the response. I am a lot relieved now.
I have only one more question after which I will close the discussion

Can I drive car?
My injury is on left leg, and left leg operates the clutch pedal. I have tried pressing the clutch pedal multiple times and tried to press and hold for some time (in a parked car for checking), I dont feel any pain. Please let me know if driving is also some kind of exercises or one should not drive until full weight bearing

Thanks again so much
XXXXXXX