A tibia fracture is a broken shinbone. It can cause symptoms such as pain, tingling, bruising, and problems walking. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the fracture.
The tibia, or shinbone, is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg.
Symptoms of a fracture in your tibia can range from bruising to intense pain in your lower leg, based on the extent of your injury. To diagnose this type of injury, your doctor will do a physical exam and may run some tests to get an image of the tibia fracture.
Depending on the type of tibia fracture you have, your doctor may recommend surgery. Recovery time also depends on how bad the fracture is and can take around 3 to 6 months to heal.
Read on to learn more about tibia fractures, including types, symptoms, causes, treatments, and more.
Doctors often classify tibia fractures into the following categories:
| Type of fracture | Description |
|---|---|
| Stable fracture | The broken ends of the tibia line up correctly and stay in place during the healing process. |
| Transverse fracture | The fracture is horizontal, and the bone can become unstable if the fibula is also broken. |
| Displaced fracture | The tibia is moved out of place when it breaks. The broken ends of the bone are separated and don’t align. This type of fracture is fairly severe and may require surgery for full recovery. |
| Oblique fracture | The bone fractures at an angle and is fairly stable. It may become more displaced over time, especially if the fibula is also broken. |
| Comminuted fracture | The bone breaks into three or more separate pieces. This is the most unstable and severe type of tibia fracture. |
| Spiral fracture | Often caused by a twisting force, this break causes a spiraling line to appear on the bone and may become unstable over time. |
Tibia fractures can also be
In open fractures, the broken bone breaks through the skin. This usually only occurs during bad falls and vehicle accidents.
Ligaments, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissue surrounding the fracture site are at risk of injury. Your body is more exposed to germs, increasing the risk of infection.
Symptoms will vary depending on how bad the fracture is. Symptoms may include:
- intense pain in your lower leg
- difficulty walking, running, or kicking
- numbness or tingling in your foot
- inability to bear weight on your injured leg
- bone protruding through a skin break
- limited bending motion in and around your knee
- swelling around the site of your injury
- bruising and blueness on your injured leg
When the tibia is fractured, the other bone in the lower leg, called the fibula, is often broken as well.
The most common reasons for tibia fractures are:
- High-energy collisions: These typically involve motorcycle or automobile crashes and can result in the most severe fractures.
- Falls: Falls, especially from large heights and ones involving hard surfaces, can cause a tibia fracture. This most commonly applies to the elderly, who may lack stability, and athletes. In young children, this could also happen on the playground when climbing on equipment.
- Twisting motions: Sports such as snowboarding, skiing, and contact sports are a common cause of this type of injury.
If you suspect you have a tibia fracture, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedist. This is a specialist who diagnoses and treats abnormalities and injuries in the bones. If you also have foot and ankle problems, you may see a doctor called a podiatrist, who specializes in those areas.
Your doctor will first ask you about your symptoms and a specific incident that may have caused the fracture, such as a fall or collision. They will also review your medical history to see if you have any risk factors for a tibia fracture or any prior injury.
They will then perform a physical examination to look for:
- bruises, especially with lots of blueness and swelling
- instability when walking
- tenderness
- any obvious deformities, such as an abnormal bend or shortening of your leg
- any associated injury to your fibula
Your doctor will then perform a series of tests that check your muscle strength and blood flow, as well as whether you can feel sensation in the lower leg, foot, and ankle. They may also order the following tests to get a visual image of the fracture:
Depending on the extent of your injury, you may need emergency surgery. Conditions requiring surgery include the bone penetrating the skin, multiple broken bones, or injury to a major artery or nerve.
Your doctor will consider several factors when treating a tibia fracture, including:
- extent of the injury, taking into account the amount of damage to soft tissues
- overall health and medical history
- personal preferences
- any other fractures, such as a fibula fracture
Treatments can be nonsurgical and surgical.
Nonsurgical treatments
Nonsurgical treatment of a fractured tibia includes:
- casts
- functional braces, which allow some movement of your leg
- pain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- physical therapy
- splints
Surgery
In certain cases, your doctor may recommend surgery. This is more likely if you have a severe fracture.
The following surgical procedures are the most common for treating tibia fractures:
- internal fixation, which involves using screws, rods, or plates to hold the tibia together inside the body
- external fixation, which connects screws or pins in the fracture to a metal bar outside your leg for added stability
Recovery time depends on the extent and type of fracture. Generally, recovery takes around 3 to 6 months.
Your overall health and the extent of your fracture will influence your recovery time. Your doctor can provide more accurate information about what to expect during the recovery period based on your individual circumstances.
A tibia fracture refers to a broken shinbone. This can happen following a fall, high energy collision, or twisting motion.
Symptoms of a tibia fracture can include pain, tingling, numbness, bruising, swelling, and more. Pain relief medication, braces, casts, and physical therapy can help. In severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
A doctor can advise on what treatments they recommend based on the type and severity of the fracture. They can also provide information about the expected recovery time, which is usually around 3 to 6 months.