Foot & Ankle Care
With the constant impact of walking, running, and sports activities, it’s not surprising that the feet and ankles are some of the most injured areas of the human body. Dr. Todd Kim and Dr. Andrew Haskell treat simple to complex foot and ankles injuries with conservative and advanced treatment options.
Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture
Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture Specialists in The Greater Bay Area
Dr. Andrew Haskell and Dr. Todd Kim are board-certified and sub-specialty trained Orthopedic Surgeons ready to treat your foot, ankle, hindfoot or midfoot conditions. Â Our goal is to provide you with the highest quality of care by offering the most advanced, yet scientifically sound, surgical treatments available in the Greater Bay Area.
FAQs on Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture
What Is AÂ Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture?
The tibia, or shinbone, is the most common fractured long bone in your body. The long bones include the femur, humerus, tibia, and fibula. A tibial shaft fracture occurs along the length of the bone, below the knee and above the ankle.
Because it typically takes a major force to break a long bone, other injuries often occur with these types of fractures.
Types of Tibial Shaft Fractures
Tibia fractures vary greatly, depending on the force that causes the break. The pieces of bone may line up correctly (stable fracture) or be out of alignment (displaced fracture). The skin around the fracture may be intact (closed fracture) or the bone may puncture the skin (open fracture). In many tibia fractures, the fibula is broken as well.
Doctors describe fractures to each other using classification systems. Tibia fractures are classified depending on:
- The location of the fracture (the tibial shaft is divided into thirds; distal, middle and proximal)
- The pattern of the fracture (for example, the bone can break in different directions, such as a crosswise, lengthwise or in the middle)
- Whether the skin and muscle over the bone is torn by the injury (open fracture)
The most common types of tibial shaft fractures include:
Transverse fracture:Â In this type of fracture, the break is a straight horizontal line going across the tibial shaft.
Oblique fracture:Â This type of fracture has an angled line across the shaft.
Spiral fracture: The fracture line encircles the shaft like the stripes on a candy cane. This type of fracture is caused by a twisting force.
Comminuted fracture:Â In this type of fracture, the bone breaks into three or more pieces.
Open fracture: If a bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone, the fracture is called an open or compound fracture. Open fractures often involve much more damage to the surrounding muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They have a higher risk for complications—especially infections—and take a longer time to heal.
What Are The Symptoms of AÂ Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture?
A tibial shaft fracture usually causes immediate, severe pain. Â Other symptoms may include:
- Inability to walk or bear weight on the leg
- Deformity or instability of the leg
- Bone “tenting” over the skin at the fracture site or bone protruding through a break in the skin
- Occasional loss of feeling in the foot
What Causes A Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture?
Tibial shaft fractures are often caused by some type of high-energy collision, such as a motor vehicle or motorcycle crash. In cases like these, the bone can be broken into several pieces (comminuted fracture).
Sports injuries, such as a fall while skiing or a collision with another player during soccer, are lower-energy injuries that can cause tibial shaft fractures. These fractures are typically caused by a twisting force and result in an oblique or spiral fracture
What Are The Treatment Options For AÂ Tibia (Shinbone) Shaft Fracture?
In planning your treatment, your doctor will consider several things, including:
Surgical Treatment
- Open fracture with wounds that need monitoring
- Fractures that have not healed with nonsurgical treatment
- Fractures with many bone fragments and a large degree of displacementIntramedullary nailing. Currently, the method most surgeons use for treating tibia fractures is intramedullary nailing. During this procedure, a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the canal of the tibia. The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position.The intramedullary nail is screwed to the bone at both ends. This keeps the nail and the bone in proper position during healing.
Conservative Treatment
Nonsurgical treatment may be recommended for patients who:
- Are poor candidates for surgery due to their overall health problems
- Are less active, so are better able to tolerate small degree of angulation or differences in leg length
- Have closed fractures with minimal movement of the fracture ends
Initial treatment. Most injuries cause some swelling for the first few weeks. Your doctor may initially apply a splint to provide comfort and support. Unlike a full cast, a splint can be tightened or loosened to allow swelling to occur safely. Once the swelling goes down, your doctor will consider a range of treatment options.
Casting and bracing. Your doctor may immobilize the fracture in a cast for initial healing. After several weeks, the cast can be replaced with a functional brace made of plastic and fasteners. The brace will provide protection and support until healing is complete. The brace can be taken off for hygiene purposes and for physical therapy.
