One proven nonsurgical treatment method is to immobilize the fracture in a cast for initial healing. Once the swelling goes down, your doctor will consider a range of treatment options.Ĭast and functional brace.
#Broken tibia and fibula cast full
Unlike a full cast, a splint can be tightened or loosened, and allows swelling to occur safely. Your doctor may initially apply a splint to provide comfort and support. Most injuries cause some swelling for the first few weeks.
Have closed fractures with only two major bone fragments and little displacement (gap).Are less active, so are better able to tolerate small degrees of angulation or differences in leg length.Are poor surgical candidates due to their overall health problems.Nonsurgical treatment may be recommended for patients who: If you are awake and alert, your doctor will test your sensation and muscle strength by asking you to move your toes and see if you can feel different areas over your foot and ankle. Instability (some patients may retain a degree of stability if the fibula remains intact or the fracture is incomplete)Īfter the visual inspection, your doctor will feel along your leg to see if there are abnormalities of the tibia.Obvious deformity such as angulation or shortening (the legs are not the same length).He or she will assess your overall condition, and then focus on your leg. Your doctor also needs to know if you take any medications.Īfter discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will do a careful examination. For example, if you fell from a tree, how far did you fall? It is just as important for your doctor to know if you sustained any other injuries and if you have any other medical problems, such as diabetes. It is important that your doctor knows the circumstances of your injury. This is especially true if the fibula is not broken. If an oblique fracture is initially stable or minimally displaced, over time it can become more out of place. Oblique fracture: This type of fracture has an angled pattern and is typically unstable. This fracture can be unstable, especially if the fibula is also broken. Transverse fracture: This type of fracture has a horizontal fracture line.
These types of fractures often require surgery to put the pieces back together. In a stable fracture, the bones usually stay in place during healing.ĭisplaced fracture: When a bone breaks and is displaced, the broken ends are separated and do not line up. The broken ends of the bones basically line up correctly and are aligned. Stable fracture: This type of fracture is barely out of place. The fibula is often broken as well.Ĭommon types of tibial fractures include: The severity of the fracture usually depends on the amount of force that caused the break.
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