How is a distal fibula fracture diagnosed?
X-Rays are used to see the fracture and see if a bone has been displaced. MRI Scans provides a more detailed scan and can generate detailed pictures of the interior bones and soft tissues Bone scans, CT Scans, and other tests may be ordered to make a more precise diagnosis and judge the severity of the fibula fracture.
Can you walk on a distal fibula fracture?
Because the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, your doctor might allow you walk as the injury recovers. You also might be advised to use crutches, avoiding weight on the leg, until the bone heals because of the fibula’s role in ankle stability.
What is a nondisplaced fracture of the fibula?
The fibula supports the tibia and helps stabilize the ankle and lower leg muscles. Tibia and fibula fractures are characterized as either low-energy or high-energy. Low-energy, nondisplaced (aligned) fractures, sometimes called toddler’s fractures, occur from minor falls and twisting injuries.
What is the healing time for a non displaced fracture of the distal fibula?
Distal Fibula Stress Fracture – with follow up
| Healing: | This normally takes approximately 6 weeks to heal. |
|---|---|
| Pain and Swelling: | The swelling is often worse at the end of the day and elevating it will help. Pain and swelling can be ongoing for 3-6 months. Take pain killers as prescribed. |
What is an oblique fracture?
Oblique Fracture: the break has a curved or sloped pattern. Pathologic Fracture: caused by a disease that weakens the bones. Spiral Fracture: one part of the bone has been twisted at the break point. Stress Fracture: a hairline crack. Transverse Fracture: the broken piece of bone is at a right angle to the bone’s axis.
How do you diagnose a fibula fracture?
The fibular compression test, or squeeze test, is used if a syndesmotic or fibular injury is suspected. To perform the squeeze test, place the thumb on the tibia and the fingers on the fibula at the midpoint of the lower leg; then squeeze the tibia and fibula together.
What does a distal fibular fracture mean?
Distal fibula fractures are the most common type at the ankle and are usually the result of an inversion injury with or without rotation. They are the extension of a lateral collateral ligament injury.
How is a distal fibula fracture treated?
The general process for healing a fibula fracture is immobilization with a splint or cast for several weeks, after which you might get a walking boot to help you walk. Recovery time depends on factors such as: the severity of the injury and the presence of any other injury at the same time.
What is a fibular fracture?
A fibular fracture is a break to your fibula caused by a forceful impact that results in injury. It can also happen when there’s more pressure or stress on the bone than it can handle. The fibula is a bone in the lower leg stretching from the knee to the ankle and visible from the outside.
How long do you wear a boot for a broken fibula?
If you sustain a complete break, you will need to wear a medical boot for at least two months to help stabilize and protect the leg. Depending on the extent of the fracture or break, surgery may be the most appropriate option to fully recover from a break in your fibula.
What is a nondisplaced oblique fracture?
Nondisplaced fractures They are sometimes referred to as incomplete fractures because the bone cracks but does not break all the way through. Broken bones do not always crack through the side, they can crack parallel to the bone’s long axis, such as in linear fractures.
How do you treat an oblique fracture?
You may need to take anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers to handle pain. In some instances, the doctor may need to perform a reduction, which is the process of resetting the bone. In other cases, the doctor may restrict mobility by placing the broken bone in a brace, sling, or cast for several weeks.
How long does a fractured fibula take to heal?
An undisplaced fracture of the fibula in a healthy adult like yourself will heal in approximately 4 to 8 weeks completely depending upon its severity. However, you do not need to keep the leg in a POP cast for more than 4 weeks and there after, complete weight bearing and physiotherapy can be started.
How do you heal a broken fibula?
A fibula fracture usually presents symptoms such as pain and swelling, and is usually diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests. This injury can take several weeks to heal, and treatment usually involves pain medication, rest, ice and heat application, and in some cases, crutches or immobilization.
What is the cause of an oblique fracture?
An oblique fracture is usually caused by an injury to the bone as the result of a fall, accident, or other trauma. Disorders that weaken the bones in the body, such as osteoporosis and cancer, put some people at higher risk for injury.
How is an oblique fracture diagnosed?
An oblique fracture is usually diagnosed through an x-ray, which can help the doctor locate the specific location of the crack or break.