Broken Bones :: Healing Of A Fractured Tibia
Sep 5, 2013
I have a spiral fracture of the Tibia. It has been fixed with a plate however the surgeon left a gap in the bones. (This gap was not present in the original x-ray prior to surgery). After 12 weeks there is no sign of the bone healing. I sort a 2nd opinion & was advised that the bone is unlikely to heal because of the gap & further surgery was recommended to join up the gap & possible a bone graft.
What is the conventional thinking on this? Should bones be fixed touching to heal?
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Background: I suffered a closed spiral fractured tibia and fibula about 1/3 up the leg in a skiing accident exactly 6 weeks ago. The fibula has a bone fragment at the break and looks as though two points of the fibula are touching with the fragment rotated 65 degrees in place. After IM nailing the tibia and leaving the fibula as is, I was put in a walking boot and given crutches, I ditched the crutches after the first 2 weeks and have been in the walking in the boot around my campus slowly but surely as instructed. I'm 21 years old and was fairly active (gym, basketball, skiing regularly and some occasional running). At 4 weeks, I started physical therapy for mostly range of motion of the ankle and some small exercises for thigh muscle. My first X-ray will be this week and the Orthopedic Surgeon ideally wants to take my boot off at the 7 week mark. I have been doing everything I'm told my Surgeon and in my PT. My goal is to be able to sprint/run/jump as soon as possible and at least by next year. My ankle is still swollen (not bruised but swollen), I would say I have maybe 30%-45% range of motion and my knee gets tight if not active for awhile, but no pain usually unless I walk A LOT during the day, which feels like having very bad growing pains with soreness.
Questions:
1) Generally is this the speed a usual Tib-Fib fracture progresses in terms of recovery?
2) My Surgeon tells me that fibulas will "heal on their own" and that "They are not that important anyway" even with the fragment, but if my fibula doesn't show signs of recovery should my boot still come off? Or should I seek a second opinion/surgery?
3) Could my early ankle ROM exercises have impaired my fibula healing process?
4) How important is a second opinion if it eventually looks like the fibula is not healing? (I believe my surgeon would tell me to take boot off and walk or just wait for healing to start)
5) Generally how long is it before someone like me is able to do leg curls, swats, leg lifting, and distance running again?
Thanks for reading! Lmk if you have any questions or comments!
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I broke my fib and tib on January 22nd, nearly 23 weeks ago. The fracture was treated conservatively, in a long leg cast for 6 weeks. After 1 week, x rays showed angulation, and wedges were applied in the cast. This seemed to be successful, as there is no evidence of malunion. After 6 weeks, a sarmiento cast was applied and 50% weight bearing initiated. At 12 weeks, x rays showed healing was being slow and after a further 4 weeks in a second sarmiento cast, at 16 weeks, although there had been some growth, it was deemed necessary to have a further 4 weeks in a Miami cast. At 20 weeks, the registrar was of the opinion that healing was still no adequate, and a CT scan is being arranged. Options suggested if there is evidence of delayed healing, are: bone stimulator or bone graft.
There is no pain on standing although there are some occasional twinges over the fracture when walking. Weight bearing has now been increased on advice, to 70%. I always use a walker.
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I have broken my tibia just above the ankle I have had a steel rod inserted through the bone and it has been two weeks since the operation and doctor has told me I can start walking with crutches. Still unsure how much weight I can put on it and what to do to help it heal?
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I'm a 22 year old male. On March 18, I broke both Tibia/Fibula bones in my right leg while playing basketball. The fracture was diagnosed as a displaced oblique fracture of the tibial shaft. The break is located fairly close to the middle of the bone, maybe just a little closer to the ankle. I had surgery on March 25, where an IM rod was placed in with two pins each above and below the break. Three weeks after surgery, the orthopedic surgeon told me it was okay to bear partial weight on my leg using crutches. It is May 5 (6 weeks post-op), and I have been walking around using my injured leg with the assist of crutches for the past two weeks. I have also been loosening my knee/ankle, and using foam rollers to loosen up muscles in the injured leg. I have no serious pain, just small amounts of swelling throughout the day. I was just wondering if weight-bearing on the injured leg is okay considering it is an oblique fracture. Is it normal to put weight on a fracture so early after post-op? Also, when do most people who experience a fractured tibial shaft begin to start driving again?
Thank you for any advice and help in advance.
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About two weeks ago I had a nasty tangle with a rusty old swing set, and to make a long story short, the swing set kicked my butt and gave me a spiral fracture in my tibia (about halfway down my shin) and a hairline fracture through my fibula (right up near my knee.)
I've got the sucker casted and have been staying off of it, but recently had a nasty scare. I fell off my front porch (about three feet from the ground, which is solid concrete where I was sitting,) and only managed to keep from seriously hurting myself because I knocked my poor cousin over as he was walking by.
Again, I'm fine, but it got me to wondering: How likely is it that, had my cousin not been there, I could have broken my leg despite it being in a thigh-to-toe cast?
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I broke my ankle 3 weeks ago now by rolling out wards stepping down a step I broke my tibia and fibula think it is a bimalleolar fracture? I had a half cast on for a week then a full cast and after a week put into an air boot. I have struggled to put weight on my foot and still need the crutches but tonight examining my ankle I've noticed I still have lots of bruising and swelling on the able it also looks deformed like a bone is sticking out prominently and feels hard to touch there is still pain and I also can't bend the last three toes on my foot.
I'm really concerned this isn't normal and the ankle isn't healing properly or the cast was taken off too soon does any one have advice? There was concerns I would need surgery but was given the all clear last Friday. I've also been discharged by the fracture clinic for no follow ups which I thought was also strange.
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I am a 25 year old female and I fractured both of my heel bones about 8 weeks ago after jumping from a height of 6 or 7 feet. An MRI showed the fractures as well as bone bruising in both feet. My doctor gave me crutches and that he'd follow up with me in a couple weeks.
I stayed off my feet COMPLETELY for the first 3-4 weeks post the date of injury, but then I started walking around my house (couch to bathroom, couch to kitchen, etc.) on my toes/balls of feet without crutches. This would cause minor pain in my heels but I didn't think much of it cause it's not like I was putting weight on them.
At my follow up appointment (6 weeks post injury) the x-rays showed the healing fractures and my doctor said I could start walking. This confused me because initially he said it would take 6-8 weeks. I told him I was still having pain (not constant, more like sharp pricks that come and go after a few seconds) so he told me to wait 2 more weeks and to THEN start walking.
Well, those 2 weeks are now over and I still have the pain that comes and goes in my heels, and NOW the bones in my toes and sides of my feet are hurting a bit from walking around on them for several weeks. I'm going back to the doctor on Wednesday so I'm sure I'll get some peace of mind then (although I don't particularly like my doc, he's the kind that rushes through your appointment) but I just wanted to post here to see if anyone else experienced this first hand.
MY MAIN QUESTION IS: IS THERE ANYWAY that by walking around on my toes/balls of feet I have delayed the healing process in my heels? I've tried looking around ALL over the internet and can't find an answer for this. I don't see how it could because I'm not putting any weight on my heels..
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Broke my foot 5th metatarsal. At 4 weeks not healing yet,i'm now in an aircast from a hardcast. This is week 6. Foot at night just burns and burns. I don't get much sleep and now i have a deep aching.along with the burning. I was told no weight on it but i can walk on the heel only if necessary. Why now at 6 weeks is it hurting and burning?.
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Just a little background over the past 5 weeks.
I fell over and broke my left humerus 5 weeks ago yesterday. Initial visit to A&E which resulted in X-rays and put in a collar and cuff for the first 4 days.
I then visited Orthopedics and more X-rays taken and put into a Brace.
I was in the brace until week 4, when it was replaced by a plaster U slab as the brace was causing my arm and hand to be considerably swollen. My U slab had to be changed twice due to it moving constantly in this time and in my opinion not isolating the break.
I had an appointment yesterday at Orthopedics where it was replaced yet again, and told my next appointment is on the 18th of December.
My concerns,
Various different stories told as to healing times.
I am 5 weeks since the break, when will they decide if it needs operating.
I am taking serious pain relief which is barely touching it, and causing sickness.
Its seems like i am being a nuisance asking questions or going back to the hospital, am i being paranoid.
I have managed to take pictures of the X-rays every time they have been taken and week 5 looks the same as day 1.
I know Orthopedic Surgeons undergo the same training. I have a problem that my Surgeon is a lower limb specialist. I have asked to see the Surgeon who specialises in my the area of my break, but only to be told that they are all the same.
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My 50 husband broke the tibia in his right ankle over 10 weeks ago and wore the boot for 6 weeks. Now being almost 3 weeks since taking the boot off and he is in alot of pain and severe swelling. Why is his ankle still swollen and him continue to be in severe pain? Is there anything we can do to help him?
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I broke my tibia a week ago. I had a cast put on three days ago. I did not need surgery. I know that there is going to be swelling. I have been staying off of it and when I do get up I use crutches. Within five minutes of me being up my foot and toes swell very. bad and toes become cold and numb. Is this normal? My other concern is that my ankle actually feels better when it is slightly swollen. When should I worry about the swelling in my foot?
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I broke my leg on the 21st September 2013, and it has now been broken for 15 weeks! I have a spiral fracture to the right tibia, and the doctors decided not to operate. I had a full leg cast for the first 8 weeks, and then went onto a half leg cast, fully weight baring! At first I could only put some of my weight through the bone, and would rely mostly on my crutches, but recently I have been able to hobble around with using no crutches at all - I only do this when i'm inside my house as I would still not rely on my bone fully to steady me. But in the last week or so, it has started to ache more, and it had completely stopped hurting before I am scared that I have put to much weight through it and damaged it again! The pain isn't that bad, it comes and goes and i only take paracetamol to make the ache go away, but it really is worrying me! I don't yet know when my cast is due off as apparently the doctors said my bone will take 4 to 4 and a half months to heal, but by my x rays he said it could be a little earlier! I am a 19 year old girl at university, doing a practical drama degree, so as you can imagine this has been a nightmare for me & I was so hoping I was nearing the end! It seems ever lasting! I'm just wondering if this pain that i'm experiencing now is normal, or if i have possibly done something to damage the break again! I am just panicking because i so want this to be over now i've come 15 weeks and i don't want to go back to square 1
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Why did my doctor not put a cast on my leg..he gave me a walker and a knee brace and told me not to put pressure on my right leg because the bone May split and then I would have to have surgery...seems like he would put a cast on my leg to make sure it doesn't move the bone.
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I broken my tibia in my ankle 5 days ago! It is a small clean break! It hardly hurt at all, didn't cry until they said it was broken! No exciting story i was running up the stairs and went over on my right ankle on the landing!
I hardly had any swelling as I put ice on it straight away and went to a+e straight away. They put me in a temp cast. I found this very uncomfortable and went straight back in the morning as they said the break was very small and in a 'good place'. They said I could have a air boot.
I am due to go to the fracture clinic in just under two weeks! To check the progress!
My biggest problem is that I am going away in just 3 weeks and really not wanting to wear the airboot whilst I'm away! Could anyone advise me if this would possible!
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I faced an accident one month ago and broken my tibia and fibula of right leg... i was operated with a rod surgery.. a rod and 3 nails were placed.. please tell how much time it will take to recover... and after how much time i should go for a xray...
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Dec 2012 I broke my fibula in 1 place, my tibia in 2 and shattered my ankle.
I have had 2 surgeries and currently have one 10 inch plate, one 12 inch plate and 19 screws in my leg.
I realize I am only 9 months into recovery. My surgeon and pain management dr both have said the typical recovery is 18months to 2years or longer.
My question is this.. can the screws become infected or have issue at this point in recovery? While the majority of the pain is obviously deep bone pain, I have no feeling on half my leg and the other side the nerves go crazy and fire at random times.
However the last month I am feeling this weird pressure high up on the tibia plate where 4 screws are located. It is definitely warmer than the rest of the area and a small swollen area.
I still have major issues walking and stretching, but the last few weeks the largest area of discomfort (besides the ankle which is always there) is high up on the tibia where I mentioned.
I saw my surgeon two days ago and he said x rays did not show any issue with hardware and it is probably just my bone and muscle getting used to walking again.
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I broke my tibia and fibula while playing soccer 7 weeks ago. I had an IM nail and 4 screws put into my tibia. I recently had my full leg cast removed at 6 weeks, and the doctor told me I could start partial weight bearing (25-45 lbs).
My question is, when the doctor said 25-45lbs, is that because that is the most that my bones can take? Or can my bones take my full body weight at this point? Is my doctor simply taking into account the fact that my joints and my muscles will be very atrophied (which is true)? So can I simply start bearing my full body weight as soon as my joints and muscles let me?
I also got a walking cast, but I do not enjoy using it. Do I have to use it? I can just be careful when I'm outside.
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I meet with an accident on 24 sept and and my left leg broken both tibia and fibula at the lower end and I gone through a surgery .
It is almost 12 weeks now I want to know that my doctor is telling to remove one screw from the upper part of the rod. Is it a good decision or not as my broken bone is not yet joined totally and there is a pain at my toe also.
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I broke my Tib and Fib near the ankle on January 18 (two days before this post) and it's been ok. When it itches I use a blow dryer in cool setting to blow it, and apply ice to it every few hours. I'm trying to keep it above my heart, but it is very uncomfortable and I can't find a proper position. It's a little tight around my ankle, but it's manageable. Any tips for me guys?
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About 7 months ago I broke my femur, fibula, and tibia in a MVA. These past 7 months have been brutal to my mental health for the reason that I led an active lifestyle. So I've been through tons of PT and home exercises, bike riding in the past 4/5 months to try and get back my normal life. I've progressed tremendously. Been to the orthopedic doctor also and he said my bones are looking good and were pretty much healed. That was about a month ago.
If it's useful I have a rod from my hip to my knee with 6 screws in it. Then I also have a three inch plate down on my fib/tib with some screws in it as well.
So my question is, when will I be able to start skateboarding again normally. I've been a skateboarder for ten years so I do know what I'm doing. I can "ride" my board quite well. Anytime I start trying tricks though my lower leg has pain from the impact of jumping.
Is it just a mental and physical block from my body that I have to slowly progress out of or does there need to be more time before I start going at it again. Maybe because my lower leg needs some more time?
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