Fibula

The fracture of the fibula is a very common injury within the sporting world and especially contact sports, but not exclusive to them, since they also take place in accidents of daily life, so today I will talk about it so that you discover something more about it.

Whenever there is an ankle injury, X-rays should be taken to rule out this possible injury, as the initial signs can lead to confusion. Even if the trauma suffered is not exaggerated, a fracture can appear, or in accidents that seem very aggressive, simply end up with a sprain. So when in doubt, it is best to insure yourself and perform radiological tests.

There are different types of fibula fractures, depending on the level at which they are fractured and the ligaments that are injured as a result of subluxation. The most common are usually in the middle or distal third of the fibula, especially those of the malleolus (the bony area protruding from the outside of the ankle).

• Lateral malleolus fractures occur when the fibula fractures at the ankle.
• Fractures of the fibula head occur at the top end of the fibula at the knee.
• Avulsion fractures occur when a small piece of bone that is attached to a ligament or tendon is removed from the main part of the bone.
• Stress fractures describe a condition in which the fibula is injured as a result of repetitive stress, such as walking or running.

The treatment will be orthopedic or surgical depending on the size of the injury, and especially if there has been displacement. Whenever recovery is possible with orthopedic treatment (plaster) is the best option before reaching the operating room.

If the fracture is not displaced, plaster will be applied for a few weeks (depending on each case, but oscillates between 6-8 weeks), and then rehabilitation will proceed. In the meantime, exercises should be carried out so as not to lose too much muscle mass and to facilitate subsequent recovery, such as isometric contractions of the leg muscles.

If there is displacement, if possible it will be reduced orthopedically, that is to say, we will try to manually place the bone in its place making certain tractions and pressures on the leg bones. After this, new x-rays will be taken to check that the bone has remained in place. If this is the case, plaster will be applied and the procedure will continue as in the previous case. If, on the other hand, the result is not satisfactory, it would be necessary to assess whether surgery is necessary.