Causes and treatment of tibia fractures

Tibia fractures are the most common fractures, and they occur more often in children. Adults can also suffer from tibia fractures in the lower leg. Among tibia fractures, single fracture of the tibia shaft is the most common. What are the causes of tibia fractures in the lower leg, and how to treat them?

1. Causes of tibia fracture

This disease is mostly caused by direct violence, such as crushing, collision, and blow. The fracture line is transverse or comminuted, and sometimes the tibia and fibula are fractured in the same plane. Indirect violence is often caused by falling from a height, sprains from running or jumping, or fractures caused by slipping. The fracture line is often oblique or spiral, and the tibia and fibula are often not fractured in the same plane. Direct violence is prone to open fractures, and soft tissue damage is often more serious.

2. Treatment Methods

1. Conservative treatment: Greenstick fractures in children and non-displaced fractures in adults can be directly fixed.

2. Manual reduction under anesthesia: This method can be used for stable fractures with displacement, such as transverse fractures, sawtooth fractures, and fractures that are easy to reduce. After reduction, a small splint or long leg plaster can be used for fixation.

3. Bone traction: For oblique, spiral, comminuted and other tibia and fibula fractures, the bone ends are very unstable, it is difficult to maintain good alignment after reduction, and there are wounds at the muscle fracture, skin abrasions and severe limb swelling. The limb condition must be closely observed and cannot be fixed immediately with a small splint or plaster splint. It is best to use continuous traction with the calcaneus.

4. Extraosseous pin fixation: For open fractures, external fixation is performed after strict debridement.

5. Open reduction and internal fixation: Internal fixation is required for patients with unstable fractures, vascular and nerve damage, compartment syndrome and other complications.