The leg’s bone structure is designed to carry most of the body weight and upon breakage, it may render one unable to perform normal operations such as walking and running. Tibia fractures are one of the worst, as they involve the crucial part of the leg that is responsible for overall balance. One interesting statistic is that the tibia bone is the most susceptible to breakage and fractures of all the long bones in the body.
What causes tibia fracture
Sportsmen and Athletes are the most prone to injuries in the tibia area. The breakage of long bones in the body is usually as a result of a high-velocity impact, which results in significant amount of force to the shinbone. This force causes a shift in stress and with the high velocity, a part of the long bone is likely to suffer a break one way or another.
In most cases, the foot is usually on the ground while another force is directed upon the tibia area. Similarly, landing awkwardly after a jump or fall can lead to an imbalance of forces, and consequently applying too much pressure on the tibia.
A fractured or broken tibia may come with other implications as well, as there is always the possibility of the damage of soft tissue, ligaments, and muscle. Despite all these injuries, the good news is that they can be treated together for full recovery.
Complications and emergencies
In some cases, the bone may be so severely damaged such that it appears to be poking the skin. This is known as an open fracture. In such scenarios, surgery may be required to wash out the fracture before any other stabilizing procedure begins in order to prevent future infection.
If first aid is not done almost immediately, there is a high risk of compartment syndrome. This is whereby the leg swells from too much bleeding from the bone into the compartments of the leg. The muscles, since they can only hold so much, they face the risk of rupturing. Compartment syndrome, in rare cases, can come after surgery.
Injuries to the nerves and blood vessels can also occur depending on the velocity of impact at the time of sustaining the injury. If they are not acted upon swiftly, it could lead to permanent damage of the nervous system around the affected area.
There are several types of tibia fractures that can occur, depending on the accident. Oblique fracture has an angled pattern and because of this, it is typically unstable. This fracture may appear stable initially but with time, the tibia may move out of place.
A stable fracture is the antithesis of the oblique as the fracture is hardly out of place. Since the broken ends of the bone are lined up, they usually stay in place during healing. The transverse fracture is usually characterized by a horizontal fracture line, and if the fibula is also broken, the fracture may be severely unstable. One severe fracture is the comminuted fracture. It is severely painful as the bone is usually shattered into many pieces.
Symptoms of tibia fracture
Determining a fractured tibia bone is not usually straightforward as most would presume. However, there are some common symptoms that may tell you to have tibia fracture. A pale or cold foot could be an indication that blood supply somewhere in the leg is somehow impaired. Excruciating pain, when weight is exerted on the leg, is another symptom. Deformity is another sign where the knee or shin may look awkward and out of place. A feeling of numbness and the ‘pins and needles’ effect around the shin and calf area may also indicate a fracture of the tibia.
Treatment
Restoring the tibia to what it initially was can be done either surgically or non-surgically. Before any major decisions are made, there is a need to determine the severity of the injury. This can be done through an MRI scan or an X-ray. If the skin has been torn in the process, an early surgery can be conducted to avoid infection.
External fixation may be necessary in the case where tissue and muscles have also suffered some form of damage. Metal screws are placed between the thighbone and the shinbone and attached to a bar outside the skin. This will help in holding the bones in place as one awaits the day of the surgery. In less serious cases where the fracture is not as severe, it can be treated non-surgically through casting and bracing.
Tibia Fracture – Healing time
After treatment, one may not immediately be able to resume the day-to-day activities. Tibia fractures have been found to take four months to heal, while other serious ones can take up to six months. In such cases, the doctor may perform routine checkups and X-rays to determine the progress and assess for any further damage or mishaps.
In conclusion, the tibia is a long and crucial bone in the human body. In the case of any suspected fractures, it is advisable to seek medical treatment immediately to pinpoint the exact problem and determine the best way to go forward with the healing procedure. During the healing stage, a proper diet rich in protein and calcium is crucial for bone formation and speeding up recovery.
