Tibia: where is it located, structure and functions. Description of the tibia What is inside the tibia

The tibia is part of the skeleton of the lower leg. Damage to it can permanently deprive a person of the ability to move. If the bones do not heal or join together incorrectly, surgery may be needed.

Location

The lower leg is the place where the tibia bone is located. It consists of two parts and is located at the bottom of the leg. The tibia tibia (BBK) is located medially. It is long, has a 3-sided body and two epiphyses. The upper end of the tibia is involved in the formation of the knee joint. The tibia is the strongest bone in the human skeleton. The tibia can withstand a maximum load of up to 1650 kilograms.

The fibula (MBK) is less massive, located laterally. It is long and tubular, attached to the large one and limits the ankle. Fractures and injuries of the MCM are rare.

Description of LBC

The largest component of the lower leg is called the tibia, its anatomy has one feature. Its second, but separate half adjoins the LBC. This is a small tibia bone. The tibia and fibula are attached to the femoral joints and the patella. Below form the ankle and adjoin the talus.

The anterior edge of the tibia looks like a pointed ridge. From above it is bumpy. Between the tibia there is a small connecting cartilage. The surface of the tibia is convex and can be felt even through the skin. The lateral part is concave, the posterior part is flat, with the soleus muscle. Below is a feeding hole.

The proximal epiphysis is somewhat dilated. Its sides are called condyles. Outside the lateral is the articular flat surface. At the top of the proximal epiphysis there is a slight elevation with two tubercles. The distal epiphysis is quadrangular. On the lateral surface there is a peroneal notch. Behind the epiphysis is the ankle groove.

Fractures of the BB

In case of injuries of the tibia, where it is located, pain appears . This may indicate a fracture. The latter may have several varieties. Fractures of the tibia are oblique and transverse. There are also splintered and fragmentary.

Intra-articular fractures may occur in the condyles or the medial malleolus. Most often this occurs due to twisting of the lower leg with a fixed foot. This is manifested in the fact that a person has pain in the tibia. An ankle fracture often occurs after a sharp turn of the foot.

Symptoms of bone fractures

Even small cracks in the bones respond with negative sensations. Fractures are felt much sharper. They are detected quickly when the tibia hurts when walking. – this may indicate a violation of its integrity. Unpleasant sensations occur when feeling the legs. Severe pain is immediately felt at the site of the fracture.

If the bone fragments turned out to be displaced, then the lower leg is deformed and the axis of the limb changes. There is swelling on the leg. The limb does not withstand any load. After surgical treatment of a deformed tibia, a person can stand on a sore leg the day after the operation.

When the proximal section is injured, acute pain occurs, which increases with palpation of the limb. The leg becomes shorter, it is impossible to step on it, it does not bend at the knee. I can't even move my injured limb.

The first sign of diaphyseal fractures is the appearance of extensive hematomas. They are formed due to subcutaneous hemorrhage into soft tissues. Sometimes there is a state of shock. A person cannot move with such a fracture, he is tormented by severe pain. Very rare, but comminuted fractures do occur. In this case, swelling and pain immediately appear.

Why does the big tibia hurt? This can be with a simultaneous fracture and MCD. As a result of an injury to both tibia, treatment is greatly complicated. With such a fracture, if displacement is observed, it is impossible to carry out the usual reduction.

Cyst

When the tibia hurts, this may mean the appearance of a cyst. This is an ailment when a thickening appears in half the tissue. Cysts are a manifestation of a dystrophic process.

Thickening is based on circulatory disorders and the active activity of lysosomal enzymes, which lead to a decrease in collagen and other beneficial substances and proteins. A cyst refers to neoplasms that can be either benign or malignant.

They are discovered when the tibia on the leg begins to hurt. . The cyst can be aneurysmal or solitary. It develops over a long period of time. A solitary cyst is most often found in young men. Aneurysmal neoplasm appears suddenly. Basically, such a cyst appears after an injury or bone fracture.

Pain in the leg and its bones

Pain in the lower leg can have various causes. For example, from excessive training, when the tibia starts to hurt after running. It can become more fragile with a lack of calcium, magnesium and other essential elements in the body. They are often washed out when a person consumes diuretics.

When the tibia hurts in front, this may be the result of a disease of the joints or an excessive load that the legs suddenly felt after a long stagnant period. The causes of negative sensations can be inflammatory processes or an infection that has affected the bone tissue. Very rarely, a malignant tumor can appear on the bone.

MBC fracture

Trauma or fracture of the MCL may occur due to damage to the head or neck. This happens quite rarely. Most often, such a fracture is combined with other leg injuries. The person immediately feels severe pain in the knee. However, the leg is able to bend and unbend.

The bad thing is that in MCD, the upper section can cause very serious complications. They occur due to damage to the nerves and disruption of their functions. This provokes additional complications, up to complete immobilization of the limbs. MCD fractures are treated conservatively. But if there are complications, surgery is done.

Complications after fractures

Complications after fractures can occur most often due to untimely access to the surgeon or after improper treatment. But often the culprits of the complication are not doctors, but the individual characteristics of the body (intolerance to certain drugs, low content of calcium in tissues, etc.).

Complications can manifest themselves in different ways. Incorrect fusion of the tibia, where there was a fracture. There is a fat embolism, the blood supply to the internal organs is disturbed. After the fusion of the bones, complete immobilization of the lower leg or knee occurs. They can begin deforming osteoarthritis. During healing, a false joint is observed due to a bone defect. The leg is deformed.

Fracture of the tibia most often causes complications. Often they begin due to forced immobilization of the leg for a long time. But thanks to modern means and technology, most of the negative consequences have become possible to avoid.

Fracture treatment

Fracture treatment is most often done on an outpatient basis. A plaster cast is applied to the limb. In addition, the limb can be additionally fixed with special devices. In order to calculate in time how much the tibia grows together , You need to start from the moment of fixing the leg.

After applying the plaster, a ten-day bed rest is prescribed. Then the person is allowed to walk a little and lightly step on the foot. Most often, the bones are completely fused within five weeks. A complex fracture of the tibia may require hospital treatment. In this case, fusion occurs within two months.

If it is revealed that the tibia tibia (there is a photo of it in this article) is broken with displacement and the presence of fragments, then the fragments are repositioned first. The operation takes place under local anesthesia. After that, the plaster is applied to the entire leg. Treatment of condylar injuries and fractures is carried out with the help of osteosynthesis and traction. Healing of the leg in this case occurs from two to four months. The main thing is not to delay a visit to a specialist and start treatment on time.

The tibia is located along the inner edge of the lower leg. It refers to the large tubular bones that make up the human musculoskeletal system. Anatomy allows you to study the structure, in particular, of this bone, the features of its connection with the femur and patella, the location between other structures and the structure of soft tissue elements. Also, this science allows you to better understand the biomechanics of human movements.

In clinical practice, anatomy is most important for orthopedic traumatologists, vascular surgeons, and neurosurgeons. Only knowing the normal structure of a person and the location of the anatomical structures can make a diagnosis in a timely manner, quickly make a differential diagnosis of similar diseases and determine the most appropriate treatment tactics.

The tibia consists of two ends and a body. Its upper or proximal end, or epiphysis, is the most massive, because it has a large load. It also participates in the formation of the knee joint, where it articulates with the femur and patella. This causes some features of its structure. On the sides, the upper epiphysis has two formations - this is the outer (lateral) and inner (medial) condyle. Between them is the intercondylar eminence.

Upon closer examination, it can be found that the intercondylar eminence includes the internal and external intercondylar tubercle. On the sides of the intercondylar eminence are concave surfaces, which are the junction of the corresponding condyles of the femur. On the lateral side of the external condyle, the articular peroneal surface is determined, which is intended for articulation with the bone of the same name.

Gradually, downwards, the upper massive end becomes thinner and passes into the body, or diaphysis, which is the largest part in size. On the cut, the diaphysis has a trihedral shape. It is possible to highlight the front, outer and inner edge. Between them are a convex inner, concave outer and rear surfaces.

On the posterior surface, a line of fixation of the soleus muscle can be distinguished. It should be noted that the leading edge is the sharpest. In the upward direction, it turns into tuberosity. This tuberosity is involved in the formation of the ankle joint. After all, it is the tuberosity that is the place of attachment of the patellar ligament. Despite the fact that the tuberosity is quite pronounced, it cannot be felt through the skin. The outer edge is also sharp, because it is the site of attachment of the interosseous membrane.

Gradually, the diaphysis passes into the lower epiphysis of the tibia. The lower head is involved in the formation of the ankle joint. An ankle groove runs along its back. And in front of it is the medial malleolus.

The distal head on its outer surface has a peroneal notch for articulation with the bone of the same name.

Muscular system of the leg

Depending on the location, several muscle groups are distinguished on the lower leg:

• external;
• front;
• back.

We are only interested in the posterior and anterior group, since the muscle layers of the outer group are attached to the fibula. The anterior group includes the anterior tibial muscle, which originates from the external condyle and the interosseous membrane. In the lower part of the lower leg, the anterior tibial muscle becomes thinner and passes into the tendon of the same name. After that, it descends, passes along the inner edge of the foot and attaches to the first metatarsal bone. The tibialis anterior muscle extends the foot and tilts the lower leg.

All subsequent muscles belong to the posterior group. One of the most developed among them is the posterior tibial muscle. The first place of its attachment is the fibula and tibia. Then the posterior tibial muscle passes into the tendon in the lower part of the leg, and then reaches the place of its second attachment - the bases of the II-IV metatarsal bones.

The triceps of the lower leg consists of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles. The first of them is located in the depth of the muscle layer, the diaphysis of the bone of interest to us is adjacent to it. The first point of its fixation is the diaphysis of the fibula. After that, it descends and connects with the tendon part of the calf muscle. The second of them departs from the femoral fascia and passes into the Achilles tendon, which is attached to the calcaneus. The beginning of the long flexor of the fingers is the diaphysis of the tibia, from which it goes down to the ankle joint, passes to the foot and, in the form of a tendon, is fixed to the phalanges of the II–V fingers.

The plantar muscle starts from the femoral fascia and descends in the form of a tendon towards the calcaneal tubercle. Considered a vestigial element.

Blood supply and innervation

Despite the fact that the anatomy of the nervous system has been studied for a long time, at the moment it cannot be said that it is fully understood. It is known that the human nervous system provides alternate muscle tension in both the femoral region and the lower leg, which manifests itself in the form of movement. The lower leg innervates the tibial nerve, which is a continuation of the sciatic nerve. Starting from the popliteal fossa, it follows inside from the popliteal vein and lies between the calf heads. The tibial nerve runs behind the tibial vessels. Descending, the tibial nerve reaches the inner ankle, and then passes to the foot. Between the ankle and the calcaneal tuberosity, the tibial nerve divides into the external and internal plantar nerves.

This area is supplied with blood by the posterior and anterior tibial arteries. The anterior originates from the popliteal artery. Next, the tibia bends around it, after which the anterior tibial artery passes along the same part of the lower leg. Lying between the muscle layers, the anterior tibial artery enters the dorsal surface of the foot, where it passes into the dorsal artery of the foot. The posterior artery of the same name departs in the same place as the previous one, but descends along the medial side and reaches the medial malleolus. Moving to the foot, it is located on its plantar part, where it is divided into the external and internal plantar arteries.

This area is supplied with blood by the posterior and anterior tibial arteries.

The fibula is represented by an elongated tubular formation. The bone is represented by a body, or diaphysis, and two peaks, called epiphyses. The lower fragment, called the lateral malleolus, is involved in the creation of the ankle joint. The lateral malleolus acts as a kind of stabilizing factor in the joint located between the lower leg and the foot.

Anatomy and position relative to other bones

The musculoskeletal system (ODA) in adults is represented by active and passive parts. The active component includes muscles, ligamentous apparatus. The passive fragment is indicated by a skeleton consisting of bones and their joints. In the body of an adult, this part is represented by 208 bones. In order to properly redistribute the mass of the human body in the process of life, the inner part of the bones is hollow. With the help of this, the weight of the skeleton is less in comparison with the total mass, however, despite this, the structure of the bones is strong, which allows the body to function adequately to the loads applied.

To appreciate the physiological significance of the tibia, it is necessary to understand their topography. The fibula is located in the lower part of the skeleton (region of the legs), between the thigh and foot, in contact with the tibia. From above, the tibia is limited by the knee joint, from below by the ankle joint. The small bone connects to the foot through the lateral malleolus through the ankle joint. Large ligaments are located between the tibia.

In accordance with the length, 3 parts are distinguished in the fibula: the diaphysis (body) and 2 epiphyses (upper, lower fragment). The body of the bone is bent posteriorly and twisted along the axial direction. The diaphysis is represented by a prism and consists of three faces: medial, lateral and posterior. Each of the faces is separated by a ridge. The medial and lateral edges are separated by an anterior protrusion, the internal (medial protrusion) subdivides the medial and posterior sides of the bone, and the posterior crest is located between the posterior and lateral sides.

On the back of the MBC there is an opening for the exit of blood vessels and nerves. From this opening, a special channel extends distally into the bone, communicating with the channels of other areas of the skeleton through holes. On the inner side between the bones is a delimiting edge. The upper epiphysis, represented by the head, is in contact with the tibia on its articular side. The top is pointed. The head is connected to the diaphysis of the fibula through the neck.

One of the most important formations of the fibula is the feature of topography and interaction with the bones of the foot and lower leg through the lower epiphysis. The distal part of the bone is often referred to as the lateral malleolus. This ankle is easily palpable through the skin when the foot is flexed forward.

On the inner side of the lower epiphysis is the articular side, which connects the talus and the lateral malleolus. Slightly higher in the fibula there is a slight roughness, connecting with the fibular notch in the tibia. Posteriorly on the fibula there is an ankle groove. The tendon of the peroneal muscle passes through this depression.

Impact on functions in the musculoskeletal system

The leading function that the fibula performs, laid down in the process of ontogenesis, is the provision of rotation in the ankle. Rotation in this case is a turn to the right or left of the lower leg and foot in relation to each other. Given the anatomical structure, location, under the influence of a strong traumatic aspect, the bone tissue is prone to fractures.

Usually, the fracture first appears in the tibia, as it takes on the leading stress when walking. Massive injuries or strong local effects of a negative factor can also cause damage to the tibia, often with rupture of soft tissues, displacement of bone fragments. Fractures occur in various parts of the fibula. Most often observed in the lower epiphysis.

Options for fractures of the tibia:

Fractures are usually combined with subluxation and dislocation of the foot, tearing of the distal syndesmosis between the tibia, shortening of the bone. To understand that a fracture of the entire or fragment of the fibula has occurred, it is necessary to note a number of characteristic symptoms, the main of which are pain at the site of the lesion, which increases with palpation and making movements in the ankle or applying a vertical load, swelling.

The pain is noted constantly and increases when walking or standing. These symptoms usually occur after a leg injury or fracture. To restore bone function to the full, it is necessary to consult a traumatologist as soon as possible.

Briefly about therapeutic measures and healing time

Treatment of fractures of the tibia is carried out conservatively or surgically. First, proceed to non-operative intervention. The conservative technique is based on the comparison of disconnected fragments of bone tissue and their subsequent retention. The primary moment in the tactics of treatment, the traumatologist should carry out the reposition of the fragments, thereby excluding further dislocation of the MCD and subluxation or dislocation of the foot. Upon successful completion of the reposition, confirmed by the results of an X-ray examination, the ankle is closed with a plaster mass or an orthosis.

In a situation where the docking and fixation of bone pieces did not give the necessary results, a surgical intervention is prescribed, represented by a number of stages:

After the surgical intervention, the patient must undergo a period of rehabilitation. The terms of fusion of the fibula are individual, and in uncomplicated cases correspond to 2-3 months. When multiple bone fractures were noted, and there was also a burden in the anamnesis (somatic pathology in the stage of compensation and decompensation), the fracture in the fibula continues to heal for six months. In order to accelerate the overgrowth of the fracture, to recreate the functions, the patient is prescribed therapeutic exercises and massage. Not in the acute period, treatment is supplemented with physiotherapeutic intervention.

Most people who are faced with fractures of the bones of the lower extremities, especially the tibia, which plays an important role in the development of the ankle joint, are concerned about the further consequences and forecasts of qualified specialists.

The result of treatment depends not only on the correct comparison and fixation of fragments. It is extremely important that the patient strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor. It is especially necessary to protect the fracture area from excessive physical activity during the rehabilitation period and after. The sooner the patient seeks qualified help from the moment of leg injury, the greater the likelihood of successful treatment and complete rehabilitation.

Sometimes after a bone fracture, conservative or surgical interventions, the following consequences may occur:

So that problems in movement do not arise after a bone or ankle fracture has occurred, it is necessary to take care of the legs. If the injury still occurs, it is necessary to urgently seek an appointment with a traumatologist.

After a fracture, the site of the lesion should be protected throughout life and not subjected to greater physical exertion in the future.

The tibia is an integral part of the skeleton of the lower leg. The tibia is a common name, in the skeleton of the lower leg are the tibia and tibia. Injuries to these bones significantly affect the deterioration of the musculoskeletal system and are very dangerous for health.

Tibia: fracture

The tibia is located inside the lower leg from the front side, this bone is the strongest of all human bones and can take pressure up to 1645 kg. The tibia is quite long, you can even roughly measure its length, from the knee to the ankle. The tip of the tibia is part of the knee joint, and with any body movements of a person, its work is involved, it is very important for the skeleton, since it is thanks to it that a person can take a vertical position, be stable and move around.

The constituent parts of the tibia are:

• The trihedral body of the bone itself;
• Upper epiphysis;
• lower epiphysis.

Injury to the tibia is common, even though the bone is very strong, and when it does, it can be very painful, whether it's a slight bruise or a fracture. Fractures of the tibia are divided into three types: transverse, oblique and comminuted.

Such an injury should not be ignored, since not only is it unbearably painful, but there is a high risk of improper bone fusion and callus formation.

In case of improper fusion, in the future, an operation will be required, during such an operation, the doctor breaks the fused bone, removes calluses, attaches pins and applies plaster. The healing process is very long and painful, not to mention the rehabilitation process. In order to avoid, or at least reduce the risk of fracture, you need to know the following factors that put a person in a zone of predisposition to fracture of any bones of the lower extremities.

Factors:

• Overweight and obesity;
• Weakened, untrained muscles;
• Problems with motor coordination.

If in the first two cases a person can cope without the help of a doctor, but simply by bringing his body into a proper, healthy form, then the last point must be discussed with the attending physician. To protect children from any fractures and health problems, it is recommended to send them to sports sections or play sports together. In most cases, these types of fractures occur due to impacts or falls.

Fracture of the tibia and tibia

A fracture of the tibia most often occurs together with a fracture of the fibula, this "mechanism" practically does not break separately.

In most cases, this injury occurs when:

• accidents;
• When a person falls from a great height onto a sufficiently hard surface;
• Engaging in active sports, such as skiing, mountain biking, sports riding on skateboards and snowboards, etc.

The cause can be any strong and sharp impact on the bone. The main thing is to correctly and in time determine that a fracture has occurred!

This injury is characterized by symptoms such as:

• Strong pain;
• Swelling of the limb, swelling of the fracture site and around it;
• Irregular shape of the lower leg, its curvature;
• The ability to move the lower leg itself, and not the knee joint.

There are two ways to treat a fracture of this kind: conservative, in the event that there is no need to remove bone fragments and severe external damage to the tissues of the lower leg. In this variant, a fixator is placed for the patient to stretch and properly heal the bone, this lasts about 4 weeks, then they check whether everything has grown together correctly, using an X-ray, in a positive case, a plaster is applied and the patient walks with it for 2-3 months. Treatment can also be operative, it is used in cases of comminuted fractures, since it is simply not realistic to put all the fragments of the bone in place and put it correctly in a conservative way. This treatment option is characterized by the use of metal structures as auxiliary systems for restoring the patient's bone. As with conservative treatment, the patient is put in a cast.

Before choosing the type of treatment, in any case, X-rays are taken, and the larger the sides of the limb are illuminated, the clearer the injury and further treatment will be.

Long-term rehabilitation is necessary for high-quality restoration of the musculoskeletal system. The leg needs not only to be developed daily, but also to apply physiotherapy and exercise therapy, as prescribed by the doctor.

Tibia

This bone is also located in the lower leg, long and thin, has two “heads”, upper and lower, the latter is part of the ankle, it stabilizes the ankle joint. It connects to the tibia with an interosseous membrane. The structure is similar to the tibia, but there are important differences. The body of the fibula is slightly twisted and twisted initially, but it has a fairly simple structure. It is thin and not as strong as the tibia, but their "tandem" makes the lower leg resistant to external injuries.

The fibula has edges:

• Front;
• Rear;
• medial.

With the help of the thicker distal end, the bone forms the ankle.

Where is the tibia located

The fibula is located at the bottom of the human skeleton, or rather in the lower leg.

Bone constraint:

• Above the knee joint;
• Below is the ankle.

There are large and strong ligaments between the tibia and fibula. There is a hole on the back side of this bone, it exists in order for the vessels and nerves to enter it, they pass through the channel into the bone and interact with the rest of the channels of the human skeleton.

The main function of the fibula is the ability of the foot to rotate in different directions relative to the lower leg.

This is the most important function, but because of this feature, it is at high risk of being broken. The bone, although small and thin, should not be underestimated, it is very important for the skeleton, for its stability and ability to move.

fibula injury

The types of fracture of this bone completely coincide with the variants of a fracture of the tibia. Most often they break and are injured together. Since the force of injury passes in front and collides with the tibia, but after breaking it, the force is transferred to the fibula.

Likewise, there are:

1. An open fracture is a fracture in which the bone extends beyond the muscular skeleton and skin, sticks out with a sharp edge and bleeds heavily, this fracture requires immediate surgical intervention and its treatment will take about six months. This is not only severe pain, but also a lot of stress for a person, it is not very pleasant to watch your leg in this form.
2. A closed fracture is a more humane option for the patient's nervous system, but by its structure it is not always less dangerous. If there is no displacement and comminuted fracture, then the patient is lucky and the treatment will last not six months, but three months.

As after any fracture, the bone will never be the same and complete as it was before the injury, but with proper treatment and long and hard rehabilitation, it can restore its functions to almost full extent.

The first rule if a fracture is suspected is to turn to injuries. paragraph. There you need to make sure that they take an x-ray and clearly and clearly explain the type of fracture, the treatment technique and the recovery period. There is no need to be afraid to ask questions to doctors for fear of seeming stupid, a person, especially traumatized and prone to a stressful situation, more than ever needs support and understanding. Having received such an injury, you need to prepare yourself for a long recovery, special exercises and treatment, be patient and desire to recover as soon as possible.

Where is the tibia (video)

Such an event as a fracture is always unpleasant and at the wrong time. But if it happened, for one reason or another, you need to pull yourself together, endure the pain (doctors prescribe painkillers) and tune in to recovery. How much to walk in a cast and therefore fragmentation occurred, the doctor will explain.

The tibia is part of the peripheral skeleton, which connects the bones of the thoracic and pelvic limbs. The tibia and fibula form the lower leg. Injuries to these parts of the skeleton immobilize a person for a long time and pose a threat to his health.

The structure of the tibia

As we have already found out, the tibia and fibula form the lower leg, and are located in its inner part. If we put our hand on the front of the leg (below the knee), then we immediately rest against the tibia. And on the outside of the lower leg is the fibula, which cannot be touched, since it is located in the thickness of the muscles. Consequently, these two bones are interconnected and form the ankle joint on one side, and the knee joint on the other. Thus, their structure determines the mobility and functionality of the lower extremities.

tibia

The tibia is located closer to the center in relation to the small bone. It is a tubular long bone, which is equipped with two epiphyses and a body. Her body consists of three edges that are triangular in shape:

• front;
• interosseous;
• medial.

These edges have three surfaces:

• back;
• medial;
• lateral.

The upper epiphysis, together with the patella, forms the knee joint. The lower part articulates with the talus and forms the ankle. The tibia is the most massive and stable bone in the human skeleton. She experiences the greatest stress when a person is standing, running or walking fast. In addition, this bone is very light because it has a microscopic structure, it is penetrated by multiple vessels and nerve endings.

Tibia

It is located on the outer (lateral) side of the lower leg. It is also a long tubular bone, but much smaller in shape and thickness. Consists of two epiphyses: upper and lower. The upper one goes into the knee joint, and the lower one goes into the ankle joint. As part of the ankle joint, it is called the lateral (outer ankle). Its main function is to stabilize the ankle joint. However, it practically does not carry any load, but is a place of muscle attachment.

Has three surfaces:

• back;
• medial;
• lateral.

These surfaces are separated by three ridges.

Injuries

Traumatization of the lower extremities occurs due to the large load on the joints that they experience every day when walking and moving. Injuries to the lower leg usually damage both bones.

In addition, in some cases, this load increases:

• overweight or obese;
• congenital anomalies of the skeletal system (in this case, the lower extremities);
• with a weak muscular apparatus;
• with impaired coordination of movements.

In these cases, the bones cannot cope with the load that is placed on them, which leads to injury. Such injuries occur for various reasons and, depending on this, differ in nature and severity. For example, with direct bone injury, fragments of one type are observed, and with indirect injury, another type.

Causes of damage to the tibia:

• swipe;
• car crashes;
• falling from a height;
• industrial injuries;
• excessive physical activity (for example, during professional sports).

Fracture classification

Injuries to the lower leg usually damage both bones. Fractures of the body of the tibia are almost always accompanied by displacement of bone fragments. They are of the following types:

1. Transverse. If only the tibia is fractured, then there is a stable damage to the bones without displacement of the fragments. If a small bone is damaged, then fragments are unstable.
2. Helical. Observed when subjected to a torsional force, the damage is unstable and has a spiral shape.
3. Oblique. As a rule, occur at an angle. Damage is unstable, with a tendency to increase displacement.
4. splintered. They are characterized by strong instability and the formation of more than three bone fragments.

In addition to this classification, fractures are either closed or open. With closed fractures, there is no violation of the integrity of the skin.

When open, the skin is damaged, and broken fragments communicate with the external environment. This type of damage is also dangerous because the resulting wound can become infected.

Such injuries are far from rare, they happen both in adults and in children. It is not necessary to have special medical knowledge to understand that trauma to this anatomical segment is very dangerous and can lead to serious consequences.

Especially dangerous are injuries affecting damage to both bones. Indeed, in this case, a person is waiting for complete immobility and a long rehabilitation. Displaced fractures are possible, which also require a long recovery period.

Fracture symptoms

Symptoms are characterized by severe sharp pain, rapidly increasing swelling, the appearance of hematomas and bruises, as well as an obvious shortening of the injured limb. The victim can not only walk, it is impossible to lean on and simply stand on the injured limb. As a rule, such fractures always occur with displacement of the fragments. The leg may take the wrong position and be turned in a certain direction: inward or outward (in relation to the knee). With an open fracture, there is damage to the skin through which bone fragments are visible.

The diagnosis is made with the help of radiographic examination, since one clinical picture is not enough. The study of the radiograph allows you to determine the number of fragments and the degree of their displacement, the presence of a fracture of both bones or only one of them, as well as the integrity of the knee and ankle joint. Also determine the integrity of blood vessels and nerves. For this, the victim is sent for a consultation to narrow specialists.

Treatment and first aid

The provision of first aid may affect the further treatment and rehabilitation of the victim. First of all, he is given analgesics and anti-shock therapy (in the presence of multiple injuries). Immobilization of the lower leg is carried out using a splint. Any object at hand (plywood, skis, boards) can act as a tire. When applying a splint, it is very important that its lower part covers the ankle joint, and the upper one ends at the top of the thigh.

With an open fracture, a tourniquet should be applied just above the wound to stop the bleeding. Be sure to treat the open wound with iodine, alcohol, brilliant green, or simply rinse with water if disinfectants are not at hand. All these actions are necessary to minimize infection of the wound.

Conservative treatment

Treatment in a medical institution can be both conservative and surgical. Treatment tactics depend on the degree and level of damage. For injuries that are stable and without displacement (which happens extremely rarely), a plaster cast is applied. For other types of damage, skeletal traction is used. The essence of this treatment is that a metal needle is passed through the heel bone, and a splint is placed on the leg.

Such treatment suggests two scenarios. Firstly, conservative treatment involves traction for 4 weeks, during which bone fragments are fixed in the correct position. When a callus appears, the skeletal traction is removed and a plaster cast is applied for another two months. Secondly, after removing the bandage, the patient is prescribed rehabilitation: physiotherapy, massage and therapeutic exercises.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is indicated for multi-comminuted fractures that are difficult to restore in the correct anatomical position with traditional conservative treatment. Surgical treatment involves the use of a variety of metal structures - plates, pins, rods. In addition, with such injuries, the use of the Ilizarov apparatus is indicated. The device allows you to restore the natural location of the fragments and their rapid fusion. It is used in the most difficult cases - with comminuted fractures with the formation of a bone defect. The period of bone fusion is approximately 4-6 months. The pace of recovery is individual and depends on the degree of damage and the complexity of the injury.