Tibia and Fibula fractures and broken bones

The lower leg is made up of the tibia and fibula bones. The tibia, also referred to as the shin bone, is the larger of the two, supporting the majority of your weight and is the most common of the long bones in the body to be fractured. It plays an important role in both the ankle and knee joints and therefore the implications of a fracture to the tibia can be detrimental to your every day life. Whilst in the main the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, it is still susceptible to fracture.

Fractures to the proximal end of the tibia and fibula (at the ankle) are referred to as malleolar fractures or bi-malleolar if both bones are involved.

What causes tibia and fibula fractures/broken bones?

A fracture to one or more of these bones is usually the result of a significant force. Hi-impact collisions, such as road traffic accidents are common causes, along with sports injuries such as a fall whilst skiing or a collision injury in contact sport for example.

It should be noted that fractures can happen for no obvious reason at all. Therefore, it is very important that your Doctor is fully aware of your mechanism of injury so that he/she can decide whether further investigations are needed.

What are the symptoms of tibia and fibula fractures/broken bones?

Symptoms may include one or more of the following:

Pain in the lower leg
Difficulty walking or weight-bearing on the leg
Deformity or instability of the leg
Bone protruding through a break in the skin or ‘’tenting’’ of the skin
Swelling

Physiotherapy treatment for tibia and fibula fractures/broken bones

If you have fractured your tibia or fibula, the extent of this will determine whether or not surgery is indicated. Either way your leg will usually be placed in a POP and you will be advised by your consult to rest (usually 6-12 weeks) and in most cases none weight-bear. Once they are happy for you to start moving the leg again and the POP is removed, physiotherapy treatment is extremely beneficial in order reduce your risk of re-injury and help you return to sport and daily activities promptly.

Physiotherapy treatment at Cleethorpes Physio Clinic may include: