Is a fibula fracture serious?

All fibula breaks are serious and can leave you unable to fully walk, or perform standard daily activities without help, for weeks or months.

Can you still walk with a fractured fibula?

Because the fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, your doctor might allow you walk as the injury recovers. You also might be advised to use crutches, avoiding weight on the leg, until the bone heals because of the fibula's role in ankle stability.

How long does it take for a fibular fracture to heal?

After an injury, it can take up to 12-16 weeks to make a full recovery. Your doctor will use X-rays to see how well your fracture is healing. They'll also look to see when they can remove the screws, if you have them.

How is a fractured fibula treated?

Treatment begins with the elevation of the leg. Ice is used to relieve the pain and reduce swelling. If no surgery is needed, crutches are used for mobility and a brace, cast, or walking boot is recommended while healing takes place.

Is surgery necessary for fibula fracture?

How a fibula fracture is treated depends on where the fracture is located and whether other bones or ligaments are also damaged. Surgery may be recommended, but treatment usually starts with a splint or cast to help prevent movement and allow the bone to heal.

Patient’s story: Fibula Fracture Treatment

Does a fractured fibula need a cast?

If your child has a broken tibia or broken tibia-fibula, they will need to wear a cast or boot for six to 12 weeks. During this time, they will probably have a long leg cast for six weeks followed by a short leg cast and then an Aircast® boot.

Is a fibula fracture painful?

Symptoms. ‌Fibular fractures can show the following symptoms: ‌Pain or aches at the site of the fracture on the body. ‌Tenderness, swelling, or bruising.

What does a fibula stress fracture feel like?

A stress fracture of the fibula is characterised by increasing shin pain developing over a period of weeks. The pain is generally very localised over the site of the stress fracture and made worse by exercise.

Can you fracture your leg and still walk?

A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. You usually will not be able to walk on it. If it's a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.

Can you walk on a broken fibula after 6 weeks?

It and the tibia, the larger bone, therefore, support all of your weight when standing. Because of this and unlike other types of injuries and conditions, a broken fibula usually requires six weeks to three months before patients are able to return to their normal routine.

Why does my fibula hurt when I walk?

Generally, fibula stress fractures present as focal pain in the area of fatigue. Usually, the pain is made worse by walking or running and improved with rest. In the beginning, pain only occurs after activity. However, as the stress fracture worsens, pain occurs during and after exercise.

What is a nondisplaced fracture of the fibula?

Nondisplaced: A fracture where the broken bones remain aligned. This type of fracture is usually seen in children under four. It can be caused by a mildly traumatic event or a twisting injury. Often, the first symptom is a limp.

Can a fractured fibula heal in 3 weeks?

Fibula Healing, Quickly and Completely

Fibular fracture treatment usually takes four to six weeks, as long as the patient doesn't try to return to action too soon.

How do you sleep with a broken fibula?

Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn't work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.

Do you need a boot after a cast?

When the fracture stabilizations, which usually occurs in a matter of weeks, the fiberglass cast is removed and a walking boot may be recommended. Sometimes, a walking boot isn't even needed after wearing a fiberglass cast.

Why do fractures hurt more at night?

During the night, there is a drop in the stress hormone cortisol which has an anti-inflammatory response. There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect.

Does a broken bone make you tired?

When you sustain an injury that leads to a fracture then, your body will immediately begin to rush nutrients to the site of the damage. First, your body will enter a fight or flight state. This means that your heart rate will increase, you'll feel woozy, and you'll need to sit down.

How do I know my fracture is healing?

Most doctors check x-rays to see if bones are healing. The calcified blood clot around the fractured ends of the bones will show up on x-rays and is called “callus”. Callus is just new bone that has formed and grown across the fracture site. It's another sign that the broken bone is healed.

Is a broken fibula considered a broken ankle?

Doctors classify ankle fractures according to the area of bone that is broken. For example, a fracture at the end of the fibula is called a lateral malleolus fracture, or if both the tibia and fibula are broken, it is called a bimalleolar fracture.

When do you stop wearing a walking boot?

Orthopedic boots protect broken bones and other injuries of the lower leg, ankle, or foot. They prevent more damage and help the area heal. Your doctor may have you use a boot for 1 to 6 weeks.

Can you walk on a fractured ankle with a boot?

You'll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for six to 10 weeks to keep your bones in place while they heal. During this time, you'll be non-weight bearing, which means you can't put any weight on your injured leg at all.

Can you walk on a hairline fracture?

Many people continue their regular day-to-day schedules with a stress fracture because the pain isn't unbearable like it is with other fractures. For instance, a hairline fracture in your foot may cause difficulty walking, but not so much so that it alerts you to see Dr. Scheffel.

Can I drive with a fractured fibula?

“We must feel they are not putting themselves or others at risk, and the patient must be confident in their ability to resume driving,” he said. “This often varies widely, depending on the extent of the injury or condition. For example, it takes 9 weeks following ankle fracture to regain ability to drive safely.”

How long should I wear an ankle brace after a fracture?

They will likely recommend wearing an ankle brace for a few months after the injury heals.