Orthopedics for Athletes | What You Need to Know After Fracturing Your Tibia
Commonly known as the shinbone, the tibia is a long bone that takes a tremendous amount of force to break. For the average person living a safe lifestyle, fracturing their tibia is highly unlikely, barring an extreme accident. Athletes, on the other hand, commonly suffer from tibia fractures due to the intense nature of competitive sports. From basketball [http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2248555-lakers-rookie-julius-randle-may-miss-season-after-suffering-freak-leg-injury] to mixed martial arts [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2013/12/29/ufc-168-anderson-silva-chris-weidman-broken-leg-las-vegas/4239479/], athletes around the world are at risk of suffering fractured shinbones. If you’re an athlete and recently fractured your tibia, here’s what you need to know. …show more content…
In the case of a mild tibia fracture, surgery is not required for the bone to heal. If your tibia bone is still lined up properly, it will likely heal on its own.
A leg cast is used to treat mild tibia fractures. The cast helps to protect the tibia from further damage and also to keep the bone in the correct position so that it can heal properly. While the tibia bone is healing, it’s vital to keep weight off of the affected leg. This phase typically lasts a month or longer. Athletes are often eager to get back on their feet, but patience is necessary for the bone to heal properly.
Severe Tibia Fractures Do Require Surgery
Unlike a mild shinbone fracture, a severe tibia fracture typically requires surgery to heal properly. In severe cases, the parts of the broken bone do not align properly, and a metal rod has to be used to keep the fractured tibia in the right position as it
Commonly known as the shinbone, the tibia is a long bone that takes a tremendous amount of force to break. For the average person living a safe lifestyle, fracturing their tibia is highly unlikely, barring an extreme accident. Athletes, on the other hand, commonly suffer from tibia fractures due to the intense nature of competitive sports. From basketball [http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2248555-lakers-rookie-julius-randle-may-miss-season-after-suffering-freak-leg-injury] to mixed martial arts [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2013/12/29/ufc-168-anderson-silva-chris-weidman-broken-leg-las-vegas/4239479/], athletes around the world are at risk of suffering fractured shinbones. If you’re an athlete and recently fractured your tibia, here’s what you need to know. …show more content…
In the case of a mild tibia fracture, surgery is not required for the bone to heal. If your tibia bone is still lined up properly, it will likely heal on its own.
A leg cast is used to treat mild tibia fractures. The cast helps to protect the tibia from further damage and also to keep the bone in the correct position so that it can heal properly. While the tibia bone is healing, it’s vital to keep weight off of the affected leg. This phase typically lasts a month or longer. Athletes are often eager to get back on their feet, but patience is necessary for the bone to heal properly.
Severe Tibia Fractures Do Require Surgery
Unlike a mild shinbone fracture, a severe tibia fracture typically requires surgery to heal properly. In severe cases, the parts of the broken bone do not align properly, and a metal rod has to be used to keep the fractured tibia in the right position as it