Broken leg / tibia and fibula - healing process?
Discussion
As per the title, i broke both these.
Had a rod put in the tibia as seems to be the way now. The Fibula was not touched.
I was told that i could do partial weight bearing with immediate effect. No cast, just badaged up good and proper.
Is this normal? Everything i can find suggests that if the fibula is left to heal naturally, the leg should be stabilized for a few weeks.
At my check-up after 6 weeks, i questioned this, but they said it was fine.
I remain unconvinced. They seemed "surprised" i had a broken fibulaat the check up, even though its on all the paperwork. Didn't x-ray it either. In my mind, it doesnt add up. Hows the bone going to heal if its not stable?
Thoughts? Anyone else had this?
Had a rod put in the tibia as seems to be the way now. The Fibula was not touched.
I was told that i could do partial weight bearing with immediate effect. No cast, just badaged up good and proper.
Is this normal? Everything i can find suggests that if the fibula is left to heal naturally, the leg should be stabilized for a few weeks.
At my check-up after 6 weeks, i questioned this, but they said it was fine.
I remain unconvinced. They seemed "surprised" i had a broken fibulaat the check up, even though its on all the paperwork. Didn't x-ray it either. In my mind, it doesnt add up. Hows the bone going to heal if its not stable?
Thoughts? Anyone else had this?
I broke my tib/fib 9 weeks ago. My surgeon went down a different route and now I have 21 screws and 2 plates holding the bones in place.
A couple of friends have had tib repairs with an IM nail (rod) and were weight bearing straight away. I can only confirm that one of them was bandaged up, no cast. He was weight bearing as tolerated 2 days after the surgery but the pain was such that he couldn’t really start properly waking until 3 weeks (with crutches). The fibula is non-weight bearing so as I understand it is much simpler to repair, providing it’s a clean break, aligned and supported I’d think 6-8 weeks it’ll be pretty well healed.
A couple of friends have had tib repairs with an IM nail (rod) and were weight bearing straight away. I can only confirm that one of them was bandaged up, no cast. He was weight bearing as tolerated 2 days after the surgery but the pain was such that he couldn’t really start properly waking until 3 weeks (with crutches). The fibula is non-weight bearing so as I understand it is much simpler to repair, providing it’s a clean break, aligned and supported I’d think 6-8 weeks it’ll be pretty well healed.
andySC said:
I broke my tib/fib 9 weeks ago. My surgeon went down a different route and now I have 21 screws and 2 plates holding the bones in place.
A couple of friends have had tib repairs with an IM nail (rod) and were weight bearing straight away. I can only confirm that one of them was bandaged up, no cast. He was weight bearing as tolerated 2 days after the surgery but the pain was such that he couldn’t really start properly waking until 3 weeks (with crutches). The fibula is non-weight bearing so as I understand it is much simpler to repair, providing it’s a clean break, aligned and supported I’d think 6-8 weeks it’ll be pretty well healed.
The guy with just bandage, was hat a broken fibula as well? On the upside it never really hurt to put weight on it.A couple of friends have had tib repairs with an IM nail (rod) and were weight bearing straight away. I can only confirm that one of them was bandaged up, no cast. He was weight bearing as tolerated 2 days after the surgery but the pain was such that he couldn’t really start properly waking until 3 weeks (with crutches). The fibula is non-weight bearing so as I understand it is much simpler to repair, providing it’s a clean break, aligned and supported I’d think 6-8 weeks it’ll be pretty well healed.
Get well soon. That sounds like a lot of surgery 🙄
Edited by monkfish1 on Monday 25th March 08:02
gd49 said:
At least in dogs and cats we don't touch the fibula. If the tibia is stable (and the metal implants will usually achieve this) then the fibula will also be stable.
I'm guessing in doctor speak, stable has a different meaning from what I think? I understand it's surrounded by muscle and the like so can't go anywhere as such, but if I'm moving the leg, surely there is movement at the break?
Screwfix.com
Mine was/is a spiral fracture so the nail wouldn’t have worked so well. You can see the fibula also received the self tapper treatment as that was pretty messed up too. I’m 9 weeks in and 3 weeks into weight bearing. I have one of those big walking boot casts to get around in. I’m doing a few 2 mile walks per week and 5 hours on the bike (turbo trainer). Using no crutches in the house and one when I’m out and about. First six weeks were absolutely s
te. Good luck with your recovery. By all accounts the IM nail you have speeds up the recovery process as you can start using the leg straight away. I had 6 weeks non weight bearing in a cast with all the associated faff that comes with it.
monkfish1 said:
Ooffff. Nasty
Are they leaving that lot in there permanently?
That’s the plan. If it all behaves itself and doesn’t cause me any problems then it can stay in. Fingers crossed, the last thing I want to contemplate just now is another operation and all the recovery that’d come with it. Are they leaving that lot in there permanently?
monkfish1 said:
As per the title, i broke both these.
Had a rod put in the tibia as seems to be the way now. The Fibula was not touched.
I was told that i could do partial weight bearing with immediate effect. No cast, just badaged up good and proper.
Is this normal? Everything i can find suggests that if the fibula is left to heal naturally, the leg should be stabilized for a few weeks.
At my check-up after 6 weeks, i questioned this, but they said it was fine.
I remain unconvinced. They seemed "surprised" i had a broken fibulaat the check up, even though its on all the paperwork. Didn't x-ray it either. In my mind, it doesnt add up. Hows the bone going to heal if its not stable?
Thoughts? Anyone else had this?
Lots and lots of different types of tibial fractures.Had a rod put in the tibia as seems to be the way now. The Fibula was not touched.
I was told that i could do partial weight bearing with immediate effect. No cast, just badaged up good and proper.
Is this normal? Everything i can find suggests that if the fibula is left to heal naturally, the leg should be stabilized for a few weeks.
At my check-up after 6 weeks, i questioned this, but they said it was fine.
I remain unconvinced. They seemed "surprised" i had a broken fibulaat the check up, even though its on all the paperwork. Didn't x-ray it either. In my mind, it doesnt add up. Hows the bone going to heal if its not stable?
Thoughts? Anyone else had this?
Address these questions to the consultant in charge of your case, because she/he's the one who can give you reliable answers.
This forum advice is well meaning, but un-targetted to your condition.
Yours,
A trauma surgeon
The_Doc said:
Lots and lots of different types of tibial fractures.
Address these questions to the consultant in charge of your case, because she/he's the one who can give you reliable answers.
This forum advice is well meaning, but un-targetted to your condition.
Yours,
A trauma surgeon
Its primarily the fibula im concerned about. Cant imagine much happening to the tibia with a titanium rod and 5 screws in it.Address these questions to the consultant in charge of your case, because she/he's the one who can give you reliable answers.
This forum advice is well meaning, but un-targetted to your condition.
Yours,
A trauma surgeon
However, you are right of course. But getting to even see or speak to said consultant is near impossible. My concerns arose due to the fact they seemed "surprised" it was broken at the check up, and that, against any logic i can follow, wouldn't do an x-ray to see if everything was going as planned. Just go away and come back in 6 weeks. Sadly i suspect this has more to do with keeping the workload for the x-ray machine under control than my well being.
Waiting for my GP to refer me so i can go private to get an x-ray and verdict on progress so far. If its all good, great. If its not, i'll shortcut waiting another 5 weeks, just to find out additional work/surgery or whatever is required. Call it peace of mind if you like.
Sadly me experience with hospitals is that you need to "project manage" yourself through the system if you want a half decent outcome. Ive been through it a handful of times now
And ive seen people i know die or suffer serious harm as a result of really poor diagnosis and care.The_Doc said:
Not true any more. Discuss with your consultant, but we usually leave them in. Patient specific discussion.
The pins and plates that put my ankle back together were only inside for six months or so but the IM nail in my femur will have been inside for 30yrs this August.
Well, so far, my attempt to get an x-ray/scan/whatever to check on progress is not going well.
No private hospital would see me without a referal.
So back to GP, and get letter.
Now BMI say its not the right request as it doesnt ask for an x-ray. Even though it says "x-ray" on the form.
I never knew it could be so difficult to give money to someone to x-ray a leg and give a verdict on its progress.
Not really sure where to go from here?
No private hospital would see me without a referal.
So back to GP, and get letter.
Now BMI say its not the right request as it doesnt ask for an x-ray. Even though it says "x-ray" on the form.
I never knew it could be so difficult to give money to someone to x-ray a leg and give a verdict on its progress.
Not really sure where to go from here?
monkfish1 said:
Well, so far, my attempt to get an x-ray/scan/whatever to check on progress is not going well.
No private hospital would see me without a referal.
So back to GP, and get letter.
Now BMI say its not the right request as it doesnt ask for an x-ray. Even though it says "x-ray" on the form.
I never knew it could be so difficult to give money to someone to x-ray a leg and give a verdict on its progress.
Not really sure where to go from here?
Reporting radiologists are always going to give you a cagey report full of caveats anyway. Private or not. End of the day what they wrote down could lead to a world of sNo private hospital would see me without a referal.
So back to GP, and get letter.
Now BMI say its not the right request as it doesnt ask for an x-ray. Even though it says "x-ray" on the form.
I never knew it could be so difficult to give money to someone to x-ray a leg and give a verdict on its progress.
Not really sure where to go from here?
t if they get it wrong.Speak to your consultant anyway. One thing you need to prioritise is rehabbing and maintaining strength in that ankle. If you fractured your fib there's a chance you may have damaged the ankle syndesmosis which will make you at higher risk of ankle OA in the longer term.
dave_s13 said:
Reporting radiologists are always going to give you a cagey report full of caveats anyway. Private or not. End of the day what they wrote down could lead to a world of st if they get it wrong.
Speak to your consultant anyway. One thing you need to prioritise is rehabbing and maintaining strength in that ankle. If you fractured your fib there's a chance you may have damaged the ankle syndesmosis which will make you at higher risk of ankle OA in the longer term.
Sorry, buts whats "OA"t if they get it wrong.Speak to your consultant anyway. One thing you need to prioritise is rehabbing and maintaining strength in that ankle. If you fractured your fib there's a chance you may have damaged the ankle syndesmosis which will make you at higher risk of ankle OA in the longer term.
monkfish1 said:
Sorry, buts whats "OA"
At a guess Osteo Arthritis.Edit. Too late!
I had a spiral fracture of the left tibia 47 years ago and the screws are still in there! I think the X-ray showed one was bent so getting that out would be a bit of pain.
I'm probably on a waiting list.........
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