What is it about ?
The part of the lower limb below the knee, the leg, is made up of 2 long bones: the tibia, the larger one, and the fibula (fibula), the thinnest.
- The shin bears the majority of the weight. The tibia, together with the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), forms the knee joint. The tibia extends with the fibula to the ankle. The inside of the ankle is formed by the end of the tibia (internal malleolus).
- The outside of the ankle is formed by the end of the fibula (external malleolus).
- The tibia and fibula, together with the foot, form the ankle joint.
A broken leg is usually the result of trauma, such as a fall or a car accident. Spontaneous fractures, for example with advanced bone decalcification (osteoporosis) or tumor-induced bone damage, are rare.
Fractures may or may not be displaced.
- In non-displaced fractures, the bone fragments remain aligned.
- In displaced fractures, the bone fragments are no longer aligned, they have moved relative to each other.
An isolated fracture of the fibula (fibula) can occur in the ankle. In this case we speak of an ankle fracture.
In most tibial and / or fibular fractures, the tissues and muscles surrounding the bone are also affected. Blood circulation can also be impaired with severe fractures.
Where do we meet them?
The tibia and fibula are quite strong, the external force needed to fracture them must be great. This is usually a fall from a certain height and / or at high speed, which increases the impact on the bone. For example, a skiing accident when the person descends a slope at high speed, or a fall from a building. Traffic accidents can also easily cause fractures of the tibia and fibula.
How to recognize them?
If you have a broken tibia and / or fibula, it will be virtually impossible for you to lean on the affected leg and the pain will be severe. In severe cases, with displaced fractures, the leg is in an abnormal position and a piece of bone may even be visible from the outside.
How is the diagnosis made?
After a thorough clinical examination, the first technical examination will be an X-ray of the leg.
What can you do ?
Tell a doctor straight away if you think you have a broken shin and / or fibula. In the meantime, keep your leg straight. Raise it slightly by sliding a layer from underneath. Remove dirt from any wounds and cover them with sterile compresses if you have any. Otherwise a clean cloth will do.
What can your doctor do?
Broken tibia and fibula should always be treated in hospital. In most cases, an operation is necessary. The leg can be immobilized in a cast without surgery (conservative treatment) if the fracture is not displaced or if it is little displaced but stable and the bones can be returned to a good position without anesthesia.
In all fractures of the tibia and / or fibula, a anticoagulant is injected daily under the skin of the stomach. The aim is to prevent the formation of blood clots. As the person no longer moves the leg, the risk of clots forming is greater. This treatment is started when the greatest risk of bleeding from the fracture has passed.
Depending on the fracture and the condition of the soft tissues and blood vessels around it, the doctor will decide if surgery is necessary. In principle, the operation takes place within 24 hours.
In displaced fractures, the basic treatment is to fix the bone fragments by attaching a metal nail to the center of the bone. The pin is secured with screws to hold the bone in place. Another option is to use plates and screws on the outside of the bone to reattach the different pieces of bone.
External fixation, in which pins and screws are applied to the outside of the leg, is used for fractures caused by high power impact and for fractures at the ends of the bone when nailing is not performed. is not appropriate.
After the operation, the limb should remain elevated for several days. At the same time, it will be necessary to keep the ankle and the knee in movement and to start muscular exercises.
Want to know more?
- My child is going to be operated on under general anesthesia – Plaster
- What is anesthesia?, Here, Where to find on this page of Saint-Luc University Clinics (UCLouvain)
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