
Oblique fractures are usually caused by a bending force or direct impact. The different patterns of fracture of the tibia and fibula relate to the different mechanisms of injury. Related Document: Therafit Physical Therapy's Guide to Ankle Anatomy It is not uncommon for fractures of the shin, especially open fractures to involve damage to either the blood supply to the foot or the nerve supply or both. The blood vessels and nerves that supply the foot are quite close to the bone. Fractures occur almost anywhere along the shaft of the tibia but the most common site is about two thirds the way down.
#Broken tibia and fibula cast skin#
Because the bone is just under the skin it is quite common for the jagged end of the bone to come through the skin when it breaks, causing an open fracture. There are muscles surrounding the tibia on the outer side and at the back the fibula is completely surrounded. If you put your finger on the inner side of the knee and run it down all the way to the inside of the ankle you can feel bone all the way down. The shaft has a triangular shaped cross-section and the inner front portion of the bone has only skin overlying it. The tibia is shaped a little like an inverted trumpet with a long straight shaft flaring out at the knee. What structures are most commonly injured?

Fractures of the lower end of the tibia and fibula are covered in ankle fractures. We will limit this discussion to fractures of the shaft, or mid section of these two bones.

The two bones in the lower leg are the tibia and fibula. This guide covers fractures of the lower leg between the knee and ankle. Welcome to Therafit Physical Therapy’s guide to lower leg fractures.
