tibia fibula fracture

[hitbyacar]

I have already had surgery April 9, I had a plate and 12 pins installed on the outside of my left lower leg.  After being released to work in Sept my plate cracked and my leg had a fracture where the plate had cracked in half.  I went to another doctor because I did not want to have a second surgery.  He agreed surgery was the best choice but said there was a chance I could heal without surgery.  Nov. and Dec. I have been wearing knee brace to keep my leg straight.  During  the wait my leg has went from 6 to 12 degrees off.  I am walking on crutches now to keep weight off my leg, my doctor says if I can keep my leg a 12 degrees off I can avoid surgery but if not I am scheduled for surgery Jan 31 and will have 2 plates installed and a bone graft from my hip to stimulate healing.  Is there anything else I can do to keep my leg straight to avoid surgery?  Will I be able to walk correctly with my leg a 12 degrees off.  What is the percentage of success with plate installation in the tibia fibula area?

[Dr Vinod]

Falls can damage your legs and further give complications to the healing.
You should avoid falling and it is a good idea to use a walker instead.

Use a walker till you visit your doctor and hope for the best during the post operative examination Take care!

[mrsbuckmasta]

I broke my tibia & fibula on 6/17/09 while carrying my neice & stepping into a small hole in wet grass.  I also had surgery put in rod & screws.   Why don't you try using a walker instead of the crutches?  As long as I am using it correctly (not trying to do things I shouldn't), I have had no falls and find it easier to take the one step I need to get in my house.  

I was told that I would be unable to bear any weight on the leg for at least 6 weeks (best case scenario).  From what I've read, no 2 breaks are exactly alike, therefore rehab depends on the individual situation

[Rebecca900]

On 6/11 fractured both tibia and fibula while hiking.  On 6/12 had surgery to place a rod, etc. in bones.  Have been on crutches since then, have a ton of bandaging from toes to knee.  Am 51 years old and have had osteoporosis for more than ten years.

Have fallen a number of times at home because of lack of coordination with crutches (seems to be improving).  Called doc to make sure he thought I had not reinjured anything.  Have x-rays scheduled 6/24 for post-op visit.  

Was wondering what expected prognosis would be?  Was told crutches for six weeks, walking cast for additional six weeks?  I am 5'5" and 110 lbs.  Still have a fair amount of pain, but can move my toes easily (could actually move my toes right after accident).  

Any information would be GREAT!  ***@****

[Sandra243]

4/26/08

I fractured my tibia and fibula falling the kitchen.  I am four months postop.  I am walking but was wondering when the full recovery is.  I have six screws, a plate and a rod.  
I am very stressed out over this

Thanks

Sandra

[JainMD]

Hi Celia,
I was not around for a while, hence could not reply.
Well, the chances of straightening of your leg is less if you put knee brace and by keeping weight-bearing off your leg.
But, I think you should try and evaluate after 3-4 weeks with help of imaging.
If this helps you, then continue using the knee brace.
I have yet to come across literature mentioning straightening of leg with help of knee brace.
Keep me informed.
Bye.

[hitbyacar]

Still waiting to hear back about whether a knee brace could straighten my leg from 12 to 10 degrees?

[hitbyacar]

Is there a possibility wearing the knee brace my leg could straighten?  Like for example my leg could go from 12 degrees to 10 by keeping weight off my leg and wearing my knee brace all the time.  Is this possible?  Celia

[JainMD]

Hi Celia,
I am happy that you understood my questions and your answers are in perfect format too.
You had mentioned in your last post that your leg has angulated from 6 to 12 degrees.
This suggests the possible option for you now may be to get surgery by reduction and fixation using an intramedullary nail.
If surgery is already planned as line of management, then we can continue and see if by wearing a knee brace helps or not.
You can continue to follow the instructions of your surgeon, but your leg is deviated >than 10 degree, which will make gait difficult further and hence would land up in limping.
You need to discuss with your doctor and ask about possible positive intervention.
Keep me informed.
Bye.

[hitbyacar]

Your terminology is way above my level of communication skills.  I am not a doctor or in the medical field at all.  I could tell you my injury is 2 inches below the knee it was injured when a 93 Ford Taurus bumper impacted my leg at about 25 miles an hour.  My leg was shattered like a vase.  I am awaiting a second surgery if my leg does not heal straight.  The fracture is located in the proximal area.  My injury is not new so I don't have to do most of the things you listed doing.  My main question is how can you prevent further angulation of the fracture while wearing a knee brace?  I am 45 years old going on 46, my name is Celia.  My current orders from my doctor are,  wear knee brace 23 hours a day.  Stand for 10 minutes a hour, walk no more than 5 minutes an hour, lift no more than 8 pounds.  Use my bone stimulator 30 minutes a day.  Take 1500 units of calcium with 800 units of vitamin D.  Use crutches as needed

[JainMD]

Hi,
What's your name? How old are you?
Where is the fracture, is it proximal or distal or shaft of tibia and fibula which is affected?
What conservative protocol is your doctor following?
Is it RICE protocol?
Rest: no weight-bearing activities for the first 24 hours after the injury.
Ice: apply ice packs to the area that is painful or the focal point of the injury. Apply ice intermittently for the first 24 hours, utilizing a pattern of 20 minutes of ice followed by 60 minutes without ice.
Compression: apply an ACE bandage or other elastic wrap to the tibia and fibula to help prevent swelling.
Elevation: elevate the leg to reduce swelling. By having the foot positioned higher than the hip (or heart), the force of gravity is used to drain swelling out of the ankle.
Is it a closed fracture or open fracture?
Closed fractures: Fractures that are <50% displaced, are <1 cm shortened, and have <10% of angulations’ in any plane: may be treated in an above-the-knee cast. The cast is converted to a functional brace after 6 to 8 weeks.
Fractures with greater displacement, angulations’, or comminution are treated with reduction and fixation using an intramedullary nail.
What type of surgery the surgeon has mentioned?
Low-energy injuries with displacement of <50% have a good prognosis.
The incidence of complications increases and the prognosis worsens with high-energy, comminuted fractures.
Keep me informed.
Bye.