Leg & Tibia Fracture

Understanding your leg and tibia fracture injury or complex fracture is important. Our dedicated team of expert orthopedic doctors in Ahmedabad have developed this patient eudcation section to help you understand your fracture better and how we can help fix, correct and heal you as quickly and safely as possible. Dr. Pranav A. Shah and his team of the best orthopedic doctors in India have been able to successfully solve the hardest of complex fracture of the shoulder type of cases in just a short period of time for most patients ensuring that they had an excellent near perfect full recovery post operation in 99% of the cases. The patient testimonials and case studies presented on the website provide ample evidence that Dr. Pranav Shah and his team of the best orthopedic surgeons in Ahmedaad are amongst the best orthopedic doctors in Gujarat and Rajasthan. The expert Complex Fracture orthopedic doctor team performs at a world class facility CIMS Hospital in Ahmedabad, which has been rated as the best hospital in Gujarat for the year 2018 and is located in India.

Introduction of Region :

A fracture, or break, in the shinbone just below the knee is called a proximal tibia fracture. The proximal tibia is the upper portion of the bone where it widens to help form the knee joint. In addition to the broken bone, soft tissues (skin, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, and ligaments) may be injured at the time of the fracture. Both the broken bone and any soft-tissue injuries must be treated together. In many cases, surgery is required to restore strength, motion, and stability to the leg, and reduce the risk for arthritis.

Any fracture which is about 10cm below the knee and 5cm above ankle is a shaft tibia fracture. This is one of the most common long bone fractures. Very frequently there is associated wound with the fracture making it an open fracture.

Causes of Fracture :

A fracture of the tibia can occur from stress (minor breaks from unusual excessive activity) or from already compromised bone (as in cancer or infection). Most, however, are the result of trauma (injury).Young people experience these fractures often as a result of a high-energy injury, such as a fall from considerable height, sports-related trauma, and motor vehicle accidents.Older persons with poorer quality bone often require only low-energy injury (fall from a standing position) to create these fractures.

Do I Require Surgery ? :

Yes, all adult displaced tibia fractures which cannot be perfectly aligned and held by a plaster require surgery. Other indications of surgery are ,

Open fracture(Fracture with a wound)
Fractures with nerve or blood vessel injury
Fractures with compartment syndrome
Multi fragmented fractures

What are the Benefits of Surgery ? :

Surgery will help by ,

Restoring normal length alignment and rotation of both bones.
Pain relief and early return of function.
Preventing complications like : Compartment syndrome, Malunion, and nonunion.

What is the recovery process ? :

Fracture of the tibia has a reputation for complications including failure to heal, or nonunion, so the management of this injury needs a careful approach from orthopaedic surgeons. Usually, when the shaft of the tibia is broken the fibula, the smaller bone of the lower leg, is broken as well. This bone serves mainly as an anchor point for muscle and hardly bears any weight. As a result it does not need to be perfectly straight when it heals. It is sometimes surprising to patients that the doctors pay so much attention to the tibia and so little to the fibula.

Tibia fracture may take upto six months to heal. Patient can be mobilize early with the help of splint/brace and walking aids like crutches or stick.

What are the risks in the Surgery ? :

A tibia shaft fracture can cause further injury and complications.

Sharp fragments may cut or tear adjacent muscles, nerves, or blood vessels.
Excessive swelling may lead to compartment syndrome, a condition in which the swelling cuts off blood supply to the leg. This can result in severe consequences and requires emergency surgery once it is diagnosed.
Open fractures can result in long-term deep bony infection or osteomyelitis, although prevention of infection has improved dramatically over the past generation.
Tibia fractures have the highest incidence of delayed union and nonunion.