Distal Fibula Fracture

Introduction

The fibula stabilizes and supports the leg, body, ankle, and leg muscles. The fibula is parallel to the tibia, which attaches the ankle to the knee. The fibula bears 17 percent of the body’s weight, and its fracture occurs when excess stress is applied to the bone. Some serious sports can also cause fractures to the bones below the knee, such as the tibia and fibula, and those above the knee, such as the femur. Immediate medical attention is needed when a person experiences a fracture where the skin and the bone are broken and are visible.

What Are the Symptoms Associated With Fibula Fracture?

A very common symptom of distal fibula fracture is pain and swelling. Other symptoms include

• Tenderness and bruises in the affected region.

• The pain is enhanced when extra pressure is applied over the fractured bone.

• Deformities seen in the lower region of the legs.

• If there is a presence of neurovascular injury, it can cause tingling or numbness.

What Are the Different Types of Fibula Fractures?

A fibula fracture is called a broken leg. Usually, fibula fracture is seen around the knee, ankle, and middle of the leg. Types of fractures are

• Lateral Malleolus Fracture: This fracture causes a break around the ankle.

• Fibular Head Fracture: The fracture occurs near the knee.

• Avulsion Fracture: An avulsion fracture occurs when a small part of the bone is pulled off.

• Stress Fracture: It is a hairline fracture that usually occurs due to continuous stress applied over an area.

• Shaft Fracture: This fracture occurs in the middle of the leg due to direct impact.

Most of the fracture occurs when excess force is applied over the bone than it can handle.

What Are the Causes of Distal Fibula Fracture?

Some common causes of distal fibula fracture are:

• Excess stress over the bone than it can handle.

• Injury due to sudden fall or direct blow to the leg.

• Sports-related trauma.

How Is Distal Fibula Fracture Diagnosed?

• A doctor should be consulted when a person experiences pain and swelling after an injury.

• Initially, the doctor examines the signs and symptoms experienced by the person and will have a physical examination.

• The doctor will examine the region for signs of fracture and recommend an X-ray showing images of the break.

• For some cases requiring a more precise image of the injured bone, the doctor may recommend a CT (computed tomography) scan, which shows the fracture's severity and extent.

How Is Fibula Fracture Managed?

The treatment of the fracture depends on the severity and extent of the fracture. If the fractured region's skin remains intact, it is a closed fracture. On the other hand, if the skin is open, then it is called an open fracture. Once the doctor aligns the bone, the leg is splinted for any form of fracture. This prevents movement, enabling the fractured bone to heal. No much weight should be exerted over the broken leg until it heals.

1. Closed Fractured Leg Management:

A closed fracture is when the skin remains intact in the fractured region, and this fracture does not require any surgery. In this management method, a splint prevents the movement of the fractured bone, which supports the healing process. If any extra treatment is required, then other modalities are used, such as:

• Closed Reduction: In this method, the doctor aligns the end of the broken bone without any incision on the skin.
• Open Reduction: When the bone is broken into more than two pieces, the doctor recommends surgery on the fractured bone.
• Nonunion: When the ends of the fractured bones do not heal, this method can be a surgical or noninvasive procedure. In this method, if surgery is not performed, electrical and magnetic stimulation and bone grafting are performed.

2. Open Fracture Management:

When the skin and the fractured bone are opened, an open fracture treatment method is followed. A protective method is followed, which involves:

• Rest is required to enhance the healing process of fracture.

• Ice packs help to manage swelling and inflammation.

• Compression helps in the healing process.

• Elevation helps in the healing process and drains the fluid.

Open fractures require surgery as there can be additional injuries to the skin or the arteries. The doctor will

• Clean the fractured wound, which helps prevent any infection or contamination.

• Stabilizes the wound by placing the bone correctly in position before performing surgery.

• Image testing is recommended, which helps find what type of fracture has occurred.

• The doctors decide whether any antibiotics are required to prevent the occurrence of any infection.

How Can the Fibula Fracture Recovery Process Be Improved?

To manage swelling and pain of fibula fracture, many strategies are involved, such as

• Complete rest is required where the fractured region should avoid movements.

• Whenever possible, the fractured leg should be elevated above the heart level, which helps in fluid drainage.

• Cold packs should be applied over the affected region for 15 to 20 minutes every two hours to manage swelling and numbness.

• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can be provided, which act as over-the-counter medication that helps to manage pain and inflammation.

How Can Further Fracture Be Prevented After Recovery From Distal Fibula Fracture?

Some common ways to prevent further fractures are by:

• Maintaining a proper diet rich in vitamin D and calcium helps enhance bone strength and density.

• Weight-bearing and resistance exercises should be followed to improve bone and muscle health.

• The person should be careful and use proper footwear to lower the fall risk.

• Quit smoking as it can reduce the healing pace and can weaken the bone.

• There should be limited consumption of alcohol as alcohol weakens bone strength.

• Intake of any medication needs to be discussed with the doctor to ensure that the medication does not negatively impact bone health.

• Regular exercise must be followed to improve balance, which helps prevent falls.

What Are the Risk Factors Associated With Fibular Fracture?

Some common risk factors are

• Bone mass is a major risk factor in older adults.

• Smoking is another risk factor associated with fibular fracture.

• Athletes have a higher risk of fibular fracture.

Conclusion

Distal fibular fracture, usually called broken bone, is prevalent. This usually occurs due to injury, trauma, or when excess force is applied over the bone than it can handle. Usually, this can be treated through conservative methods, but surgery is required in some severe cases where other parts are damaged.