Fractures of the tibia or fibula
The tibia, often referred to as the shin bone, and the fibula are the two bones that make up the leg, connecting the knee to the ankle. Because of its thick, resistant structure, the tibia's main function is to support the body's weight and transmit it to the ground during functional activities. Unlike the tibia, the fibula does not carry a significant load, but it plays an essential role in the formation of the ankle joint (along with the tibia and talus) and serves as an attachment point for several leg muscles. Fractures of these bones can occur as a result of low- or high-energy mechanisms. High-energy injury mechanisms are generally due to direct trauma to the leg, when an external body strikes the bones, as in road accidents. In older populations, or in people with specific conditions making bones more fragile (e.g. osteoporosis), fractures of the tibia and fibula can also occur with low-energy mechanisms. Fractures affecting these bones can result in considerably different symptomatology, depending on the area affected, the mechanism and the severity of the fracture. Patients with these injuries typically experience intense leg pain, swelling, extensive bruising, potential leg deformity and severely impaired function (e.g. inability to support.
The management of patients with fractures of the tibia and fibula is highly dependent on the structure injured (only the tibia or fibula, combined injury, etc.), their location (proximal, central, distal), the characteristics of the fracture itself (e.g. displaced, non-displaced, etc.), and the characteristics of the patients affected (e.g. age). Due to the traumatic nature of these injuries, tibia and fibula fractures are generally treated surgically with several procedures available (open reduction and internal fixation, external fixation, intramedullary nailing, etc.), which are always discussed between the patient and the medical team. In the case of minor, non-displaced fractures, a conservative approach, involving the use of a boot and crutches to protect and unload the injured structure, may be considered. Whatever treatment is chosen, a rehabilitation program is necessary to optimize results and minimize potential complications. At Foxphysio, your rehabilitation process will be structured in different stages and will take place in four different environments: the pool, the gym, the movement analysis and re-education room, and the field. In the first stages, the main objectives are to restore homeostasis by reducing pain and swelling, to recover potentially affected knee mobility.