Patient education: Shinbone fracture (The Basics)

What is a shinbone fracture? — The shinbone, also called the "tibia," is the large bone in the front of the lower leg (figure 1). A "fracture" is another word for a broken bone.

There are different kinds of shinbone fractures. The type of shinbone fracture depends on which part of the shinbone breaks and how it breaks.

What are the symptoms of a shinbone fracture? — Symptoms of a shinbone fracture include:

●Pain

●Swelling

●Bruising

●Limping or being unable to put weight on the leg

A shinbone fracture can also make the leg look like it's bent in an abnormal position.

Is there a test for a shinbone fracture? — Yes. Your doctor or nurse will ask about your symptoms, do an exam, and order an X-ray of your leg.

Some people need other imaging tests, such as a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound. Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are shinbone fractures treated? — Treatment depends on the type of shinbone fracture you have and how severe it is.

For the first 1 to 2 days after your injury, you can help reduce swelling by:

●Not putting weight on your leg

●Raising your leg above the level of your heart, for example, by propping it up on pillows

●Putting ice on the area – You can put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. You should put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. You should use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after your injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

Shinbone fractures are usually treated with a cast. But your doctor will probably wait a few days for your swelling to get better before putting on a cast. While you wait for the swelling to get better, your doctor will have you wear a splint.

Before your doctor puts on a cast, they will make sure that your shinbone is in the correct position. If your shinbone is not in the correct position, you will need surgery to put the bone back in the correct position.

During surgery, the doctor will put the shinbone back in the correct position by:

●Using screws, pins, rods, or plates to fix the bone inside the body

●Putting pins or screws through the skin and into the bone, and then attaching the pins or screws to a bar that is outside the skin

Your doctor will also treat your pain. If you have a lot of pain or a severe fracture, they will prescribe a strong pain medicine. If you have a mild fracture, they will recommend that you take an over-the-counter medicine for your pain. Over-the counter-medicines include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand names: Aleve).

After your fracture heals, your doctor might recommend that you work with a physical therapist (exercise expert). The physical therapist can show you exercises and stretches to strengthen your muscles and help your joints move more easily.

What other problems can happen? — Sometimes, a shinbone fracture leads to an abnormal buildup of pressure in a group of muscles in the leg. This is called "acute compartment syndrome." The main symptom is pain that suddenly gets much worse. Although this is uncommon, it is an emergency and needs to be treated as soon as possible with surgery.

Call your doctor or nurse right away if you have a fracture and your pain suddenly gets worse.

How long do shinbone fractures take to heal? — Most shinbone fractures take months to heal. The healing time depends on how mild or severe the fracture is.

Healing time also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal much more quickly than older adults or adults with other medical problems.

Can I do anything to improve the healing process? — Yes. It's important to follow all of your doctor's instructions while your fracture is healing. They will tell you how long you need to use crutches, and when you can put weight on your leg again.

Your doctor will also probably recommend that you:

●Eat a healthy diet that includes getting enough calcium, vitamin D, and protein (figure 2).

●Do not smoke. A fracture can take longer to heal if you smoke.

When should I call my doctor or nurse? — After treatment, your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, you should call if:

●Your pain or swelling gets worse.

●You have numbness or tingling in your toes, or your toes look blue or purple.

●You damage your cast or get it wet, and it's not supposed to get wet.

●Your leg gets swollen, or you see red streaks on your leg.

●You have chest pain, trouble breathing, or dizziness.

●Fluid or pus drains out of the cut from your surgery (if you had surgery).

●You get an open sore on your skin.

More on this topic

Patient education: Fractures (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your child's cast (The Basics)
Patient education: Using crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (The Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics)
Patient education: Acute compartment syndrome (The Basics)

Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Calcium and vitamin D for bone health (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)