The lower leg is two long tubular bones of different thicknesses. The tibia is located medially, and the fibula is located laterally. The tibia is attached to the femur with the help of the knee joint.
Most often, a fracture of the bones of the lower leg is accompanied by damage to the fibula and tibia. Less commonly, the lower leg bone breaks in isolated areas.
Shin bone fracture
Fracture of the fibula of the lower leg is often caused by direct trauma to the bone located on the outside of the leg. But this type of fracture is less common than, for example, a fracture of the tibia. This type of injury can be caused by indirect impact.
When the tibia of the lower leg breaks, the pieces don't fly far. The fibula holds them tightly against the injured area.
Fracture of the tibia of the lower leg is accompanied by displacement at an angle. However, there is a high probability that fragments of the injured bone will shift in width. In such cases, the fin altheir location may vary.
The lower leg bone is also prone to double fracture: most often this occurs with an indirect injury.
Symptoms of disease
It's very easy to recognize the symptoms of a fractured femur, tibia, etc. The main characteristic of the injury is severe pain in the area of the fracture. After some time, swelling appears on the damaged area of \u200b\u200bthe leg, and the skin color changes. It is better to contact a traumatologist as soon as possible, since a fracture may be accompanied by an open wound or crepitus.
A patient with a broken leg bone is unable to stand up on his own. Each movement of the injured limb is accompanied by bursts of pain. The injured leg appears shorter visually.
When the leg bone is fractured, the peroneal nerve is often injured. In this case, the foot hangs down, even the smallest movement seems impossible. The injured area becomes immune to external stimuli.
Also, when a bone is broken, blood vessels can be affected. A sign of a vessel injury is a pale skin that gives off a blue color.
In cases where both bones of the lower leg are broken, the patient feels severe pain in the injured area. The lower leg is deformed, the skin acquires a blue tint. In a short period, the leg swells and loses mobility.
Diagnosis
But what if the shin bone hurts? First, you need to contact as soon as possibleemergency station. A specialist will provide first aid.
Sometimes it is possible to diagnose a fracture of the fibula or tibia without additional procedures: X-rays, etc.
However, most often, doctors resort to the help of additional equipment to determine a fracture of the fibula. X-ray images are taken in two projections: frontal and lateral.
Specialists note that it is with the help of an X-ray machine that you can determine the exact displacement of the bone and the location of the fragments, as well as identify the most correct type of treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of a fibula fracture is the simplest and easiest type of recovery. In most cases, a cast is applied to the injured limb, which can be removed after 15-20 days. Doctors note that incomplete recovery from a fibula fracture is very rare.
If the tibia or both bones of the lower leg were broken, then the treatment will be more difficult, and the recovery process will be lengthy. With such fractures, patients are divided into several groups, according to the severity of the injury, and an individual type of treatment is prescribed for each of them.
Sometimes when a shin bone is fractured, its fragments are displaced in such a way that the imposition of a plaster splint does not help. In such cases, skeletal traction is necessary. With this procedure, surgery can be prevented. However, this treatment has severalsignificant disadvantages: the bones grow together longer, the patient is prescribed strict bed rest.
Shin injury
Shin injury is another type of bone injury. The main symptom of the disease is a lump on the leg bone.
A bruise is an injury that is accompanied by damage to soft tissues, a violation of the skin and its structure. The first symptom of a bruised leg is redness of the skin in the area of injury. Often, after a bruise, a small seal forms on the skin, which does not cause severe pain reactions. However, doctors advise to consult specialists even in these cases.
Shortly after the injury, a swelling forms at the site of the bruise, accompanied by subcutaneous hemorrhages. A hematoma forms at this site, around which the skin swells.
How to treat a bump on the lower leg?
With a bruise on the lower leg, it is important to contact a traumatologist as soon as possible, who can make the correct diagnosis. However, if this is not possible, then it is important to provide first aid.
The injured person should remain at rest, a cooling compress should be applied to the injury site. The cold will help stop internal bleeding and relieve pain. If scratches and abrasions were found at the site of the bruise, they should be treated with an antiseptic.
Normally any disease can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. However, bruises and fractures of the lower leg are injuries that occur by accident. One can only try to avoid steep descents, falls, etc.
