Most of the weight of the body is carried by the tibia which is the larger bone of the lower leg. The bone outside the leg is the fibula which is the smaller one. The fibula is a long and thin bone that is exactly below the joint of the knee on the outside of the leg and extends towards the joint of the ankle. However, this bone has no significant role in supporting the body weight. But it is an important site for ligaments to be attached with the knee and the ankle joint as well. Syndesmosis, a thick ligament also attached to the tibia bone. However, it is an essential bone but if the bone is required in some other part ofF the body, fibula bone can be excised. Once the grafting procedure is done, the patient can be able to function normally even in the absence of part of this bone.
Types of Fibula Fractures
Fibula fractures can be classified into the following types:
Fibula fractures occur due to the injury of the ankle joint.
Fibula fractures that co-occur with tibia fractures.
Stress fractures of the fibula.
These different types of injuries can occur to the fibula but may cause numerous injuries to the fibula bone. Most of the injuries occur when the ankle joint is damaged. The fibula may be damaged as part of the injury if the ankle gets twisted or buckled. and in this situation does surgery with nails, plates, and screws by an orthopedic implant manufacturer.
Symptoms of fibula fractures
Since fibula fractures may be associated with other injuries of bones, ligaments, and tendons around the knee and ankle. The common symptoms of fibula fracture are as follows:
Swelling in the fracture area.
Pain over the fibula bone.
Bruising over the site of the injury.
X-ray imaging can be useful for diagnosing the fibular fracture. Generally, other imaging studies like; computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not required. but if a fibular fracture cannot be diagnosed on a regular X-ray image as in the case of stress fracture then a CT scan and MRI can be used. Treatment of fibular fracture is determined after the examination and assessment of the site of injury, knee, and ankle joint, and other associated injuries. The tibia and femur interlocking systems are now available for the treatment of these fractures. Adroit AFN nailing systems are also specifically designed to treat fractures of femur shafts.