How does a tibia fracture occur

After the doctor has corrected the position of the broken bones, an x-ray can also help confirm that the bones are in proper alignment. Other imaging tests that can reveal damage to muscles, ligaments, or blood vessels around the bone include:. Treatment for a broken tibia-fibula will depend on the location, complexity, and severity of your child's fracture. A reduction is a non-operative procedure that is usually performed in the emergency department.

During a reduction, the doctor realigns the broken bone so it will heal properly with the help of medications to relax the child. Your child may need to use crutches or a wheelchair while their leg is healing. If your child has a broken tibia or broken tibia-fibula, they will need to wear a cast or boot for six to 12 weeks. Waterproof casts make it easier to bathe. However, broken limbs typically swell, therefore a waterproof cast is not used for the first several weeks after the initial fracture.

If your child has a broken fibula, they will need to wear a short leg cast at first. These flexible nails realign the bone and hold it in place while allowing the bone to grow and heal. Typically, a cast is also used after surgery to help the bone heal.

If your child is an adolescent or young adult, the surgeon may use a rigid nail instead of a flexible nail. Whether flexible or rigid, the nail can remain in place permanently or be removed. For a more severe fracture, a surgeon may insert metal plate and screw into the bone internal fixation or outside the body external fixation. These hold bone fragments in place and help keep bones aligned as they heal. Recovery from a tibia-fibula fracture typically takes about three to six months.

Some health conditions may also affect your tibia fracture. These include type 2 diabetes and pre-existing bone conditions such as osteoarthritis. If you suspect you have a tibia fracture, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedist. This is a specialist who diagnoses and treats abnormalities and injuries in the bones.

If you also have foot and ankle problems, you may see a doctor called a podiatrist who specializes in those areas. Your doctor will first ask you about your symptoms and a specific incident that may have caused the fracture, such as a fall or collision.

They will also review your medical history to see if you have any risk factors for a tibia fracture or any prior injury.

They will then perform a physical examination to look for:. Your doctor will then perform a series of tests that check your muscle strength and whether you can feel sensation in the lower leg, foot, and ankle. They may also order the following tests to get a visual image of the fracture:. Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need emergency surgery.

Conditions requiring surgery include the bone penetrating the skin, multiple broken bones, or injury to a major artery or nerve. Tibia fractures can also be closed or open. Internal soft tissues such as tendons and blood vessels may be affected by this type of break.

In open fractures, the broken bone breaks through the skin. This usually only occurs during bad falls and vehicle accidents. Ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue surrounding the fracture site are at risk of injury.

Your body is more exposed to germs, increasing the risk of infection. Read more: How to make a splint ». According to a study published in the journal Injury , researchers are starting to investigate a potential nonsurgical treatment for fractures involving bone morphogenetic proteins.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Published March Lowe JA. Tibia shinbone shaft fractures. Published May Comminuted intraarticular fractures of the tibial plateau lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the knee: current treatment review. Asian J Surg. Crist BD. Pilon fractures of the ankle. Published November Factors affecting clinical outcomes after treatment of extra-articular open tibial fractures. J Orthop Sci.

Lowe J, Kottmeier S. Fractures of the proximal tibia shinbone. Mthethwa J, Chikate A. A review of the management of tibial plateau fractures. Musculoskelet Surg. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. Tibial fractures usually fall into three categories. Shaft fractures occur along the shaft of the bone, and are usually the most common and most severe. Tibial plateau fractures occur around the knee joint and may involve the cartilage on the top of the tibia in the knee joint.

Tibial plafond fractures occur at the bottom of the tibia around the ankle joint, and may involve damage to the cartilage or soft tissues of the ankle joint.