Fractured Tibia: How Long Do You Need To Wear A Cast For A Fractured Tibia?

The tibia which is also known as the shinbone is a bone which is quite commonly fractured when it comes to fractures of the long bones of the body. There are basically four long bones in the body of which one is the tibia and the others are femur, humerus, and fibula. A Fractured Tibia generally occurs around the area just below the knee and above the ankle. Since tibia is quite a strong bone, as it bears most of the weight of the body, it requires quite a bit of force to cause a Fractured Tibia.^[1]

A Fractured Tibia is normally caused due to a high speed motor vehicle collision, a sporting injury in which a player falls at an awkward angle after being tackled, or an act of violence where the Tibia is forcefully hit by a blunt object multiple times like a hockey stick.^[2]

An individual with a Fractured Tibia will have immediate pain at the site of the injury along with inability or decreased ability to walk on the affected leg, and a visible deformity in the affected leg.^[3]

The question that most individuals with a Fractured Tibia ask their physician is that how long do individuals have to wear the cast for Fractured Tibia

In cases of a closed fracture of the tibia in which the bones do not get out of their normal anatomical space and do not break into pieces, a casting therapy is done for immobilization to allow the bones to heal. Normally, it takes around 6-8 weeks for callous formation to take place which is a sign of bone healing. This can be seen clearly on serial x-rays. Once adequate callous formation is seen then it is presumed that the cast can be removed.

However, despite all the adequate casting methods used adequate healing may not take place, especially in cases of non-displaced fractures and hence physicians tend to prolong the cast for another week or two to allow proper healing of the Fractured Tibia.

Additionally, approximately 8-10 weeks of immobilization makes the joint extremely stiff and thus aggressive rehabilitation needs to be done so as to regain the lost power and range of motion of the legs after a Fractured Tibia. Thus it requires approximately 8-10 weeks for an individual to stay on a cast after a Fractured Tibia.

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Also Read:

• What is Fractured Tibial Plateau or Tibial Plateau Fracture?
• Diagnosis & Treatment for Fractured Tibial Plateau or Tibial Plateau Fractures
• Physiotherapy and Recovery for Fractured Tibial Plateau or Tibial Plateau Fractures