Early Advanced Weight Bearing for Peri-articular Knee and Pilon Injuries

Inclusion Criteria:

- Ages 18-55

- Closed or Open (Gustilo Type I, II or IIIA) fractures: Distal femur (AO/OTA 33B, 33C),
tibial plateau (AO/OTA 41B, 41C), or Distal tibia/pilon (AO/OTA 43B, 43C)

- Definitively treated with a plate

- Ambulatory prior to injury

- Able to participate in rehab starting 28 days after definitive fixation

- Meets AlterG requirements (4'8- 6'4; 85-400lbs)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Medical or psychological disease that would preclude safe functional testing (e.g.,
severe traumatic brain injury, stroke, heart disease, etc.)

- Prior joint trauma or disease of the operative extremity that resulted in pain,
stiffness, or other limitation to mobility

- Injury to the contra-lateral limb, upper extremities or axial skeleton that would
influence single limb weight-bearing or use of an assistive device

- Pregnancy

- Unable to speak English

- Severe problems with maintaining follow-up (e.g. patients who are prisoners, homeless
at the time of injury, who are intellectually challenged without adequate family
support, or have documented psychiatric disorders).

- Unable to provide informed consent.