Tibia Fracture

Prevention

Reduce your risk.

To help reduce your chance of a shinbone fracture:

• Do weight-bearing and strengthening exercises regularly to build strong bones
• Wear proper padding and safety equipment when participating in sports or activities
• Do not put yourself at risk for trauma to the bone

Symptoms

Pinpoint your pain.

The most common symptoms of a tibial shaft fracture are:

• Pain that ranges from mild to severe, but worsens with activity
• Swelling, inflammation, and tenderness
• Bruising in the injured area
• Decreased range of motion of the knee or ankle
• Limping
• Inability to bear weight on the fractured leg

Diagnosis

Get the answers you need.

It is important that your doctor knows the circumstances of your injury. It is just as important for your doctor to know if you sustained any other injuries. After discussing your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will do a careful examination of your shinbone. He or she will assess your overall condition, and then focus on your leg. After the visual inspection, your doctor will feel along your leg to see if there are abnormalities of the tibia. 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. Then, your doctor may order X-rays or a CT scan to examine your lower leg more closely and to confirm diagnosis.

Treatment

Life’s too short to put up with pain.

In planning your treatment, your doctor will consider several things, including the cause of your injury, your overall health, the severity of your injury, and the extent of soft tissue damage. Initially, most injuries cause some swelling for the first few weeks. Therefore, your doctor may apply a splint to provide comfort and support. Unlike a full cast, a splint can be tightened or loosened, and allows swelling to occur safely. Once the swelling goes down, your doctor will consider a range of treatment options. One proven nonsurgical treatment method is to immobilize the fracture in a cast for initial healing. After weeks in the cast, it can be replaced with a functional brace made of plastic and fasteners. The brace will provide protection and support until healing is complete.