Of all the body's long bones, the tibia is the most likely to be fractured and the most likely to break through the skin when it fractures. This greatly increases the risk of bacterial contamination and infection at the fracture site. It also may prevent normal healing. The sharp ends of a broken tibia can cut into nearby nerves and blood vessels, and cause serious damage to soft tissues inside the lower leg.
In 75% to 85% of patients with tibia fractures, the fibula (the thin bone at the outer side of the lower leg) is fractured as well. Doctors treat more than 185,000 lower leg fractures in the United States every year, including both tibia fractures and fibula fractures.
Fibula Fractures The fibula runs parallel to the tibia on the outside of the lower leg, but is smaller. The fibula usually fractures at the same time as the tibia. When only the fibula fractures, it usually is because of a direct blow to the side of the leg, or an extreme sideways bend at the ankle or knee.
When only the fibula fractures, it usually does not cause long-term complications. Rarely, when the segments of broken bone are separated significantly by the injury, one of the nerves to the foot may be injured, causing foot drop, a condition in which the foot hangs limp at the ankle and drags on the ground during walking.
Symptoms
If you have fractured the shaft of your femur, your symptoms may include:
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Pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising in your thigh
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Inability to bear weight on your injured leg
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Inability to move your hip or knee on the affected side
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Visible portions of the fractured bone, if the fracture causes a break in the skin
If you have fractured the shaft of your tibia, or both your tibia and fibula, you may see:
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Pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising in your lower leg
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Deformity in the shape of your lower leg
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An abnormal alignment or positioning of your foot on the affected side
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Visible portions of the fractured bone, if the fracture causes a break in the skin
A fibula fracture that occurs alone usually causes:
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Localized swelling and tenderness at the fracture site, along the outside of the lower leg
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Pain at the outside of the lower leg that becomes worse when you walk
