tibial plateau fractures typically presents with knee effusion, swelling of the knee soft tissues and inability to bear weight. the knee may be deformed due to displacement and/or fragmentation of the tibia which leads to loss of its normal structural appearance. blood in the soft tissues and knee joint (hemarthrosis) may lead to bruising and a doughy feel of the knee joint. due to the tibial plateau's proximity to important vascular (i.e. arteries, veins) and neurological (i.e. nerves such as peroneal and tibial) structures, injuries to these may occur upon fracture. a careful examination of the neurovascular systems is imperative. a serious complication of tibial plateau fractures is compartment syndrome in which swelling causes compression of the nerves and blood vessels inside the leg and may ultimately lead to necrosis or cell death of the leg tissues.