A high energy injury causing a tibial plateau fracture with local soft tissue injury and fracture bleeding can cause greater soft tissue loading and is not a good candidate for internal fixation in cases of high local tension or more severe soft tissue contusion.
The surgeon will opt for local brace fixation, or temporary fixation with an external fixation brace, and then operate electively when the soft tissue conditions have returned to normal.
Of course the surgeon will also have to determine if there is a problem with the local osteo-fascial compartment, i.e. excessive pressure leading to osteo-fascial compartment syndrome, which would require emergency decompression.