Where is distal fibula

When the tibia is surgically repaired, the fibula does not normally require a separate surgery to align this bone. In some tib-fib fractures, a long-leg cast thigh to foot will provide necessary support without requiring the surgery. This type of injury is known as a stress fracture. The pain of a stress fracture may begin gradually. Usually, the pain worsens with increasing levels of activity and is relieved by rest.

How a fibula fracture is treated depends on a number of factors, including where the fracture is located and if other injuries have occurred in association with the fracture. Surgery may be recommended, but usually a splint or cast is given to help prevent movement and allow the bone to heal.

If possible, your healthcare provider can realign your broken bones without open surgery as well. While isolated fibula fractures usually heal quickly, some may involve more complex injuries that require further treatment.

That's why it's critical for a medical professional familiar with the treatment of fibula fractures to evaluate your injury and ensure that appropriate treatment is recommended. Because only a small amount of body weight is transmitted through the fibula most weight is transmitted through the larger tibia bone many types of fibula fractures can be treated nonsurgically. However, as described, fibula fractures that occur in association with other fractures or ligament injuries often do require more invasive treatment.

The most common way to repair a fractured fibula bone is with a metal plate and screws. Typically a plate is applied to the outside of the bone, with several screws above the location of the fracture, and several screws below. Sometimes other techniques are used when repairing a fracture of the fibula, depending on its type and location. When reviewing an operative report from the time of surgery, your surgeon will dictate the method in which they repaired the broken fibula, as well as any other treatment needed.

The diagnosis of a fibula fracture is recorded as ICD code S Any modifying codes can designate fracture side, mechanism, and other characteristics. Common complications associated with surgery for treatment of a fibula fracture can be related to the incision and the underlying hardware.

Wound healing complications are most worrisome in people who have underlying conditions such as diabetes which may inhibit wound healing. Smokers are also at increased risk of wound complications. Infection can occur after any surgical procedure, but is most common in people who have conditions that may impair immune defenses. Lastly, pain associated with implanted hardware is not uncommon.

Some people may choose to have surgical plates and screws removed after the fracture has healed. Other types of complications, including slow healing and development of arthritis, are also possible depending on your type of injury. Have an open conversation with your healthcare provider about the best solution for your fracture.

You may be nervous if more invasive treatments are required. Ask if they're truly the best option and confirm that alternatives would not be helpful. Remember that ultimately, the procedure is meant to heal your injured fibula.

Once healed, make sure to ask your healthcare provider for prevention and safety tips to reduce your risk of further injury, particularly if your injury resulted from an activity. It may be frustrating to wait until you're better to continue doing what you love, but it's well worth it. In general, you can reduce your risk of a fibula fracture by working to maintain your bone mass. Some factors such as age and gender are out of your control, but others such as quitting smoking and practicing sports safety can help.

Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Harvesting the free fibular graft: A modified approach.

Indian J Orthop. Three week versus six week immobilisation for stable Weber B type ankle fractures: randomised, multicentre, non-inferiority clinical trial.

Fractures of the ankle joint: investigation and treatment options. Dtsch Arztebl Int. Gupton M, Kang M. The fibula is the long, thin and lateral bone of the lower leg.

It runs parallel to the tibia, or shin bone, and plays a significant role in stabilizing the ankle and supporting the muscles of the lower leg. Compared to the tibia, the fibula is about the same length, but is considerably thinner. The head of the fibula forms the proximal superior tibiofibular joint with the lateral edge of the tibia. From the proximal tibiofibular joint, the fibula extends slightly medially and anteriorly in a straight line toward the ankle. Upon reaching the ankle, the fibula swells into a bony knob known as the lateral malleolus, which can be seen and felt protruding from the outside of the ankle joint.

At the medial malleolus, the fibula forms the distal inferior tibiofibular joint with the tibia and also the talocrural ankle joint with the tibia and talus of the foot. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. The fibula is the slender long bone that is attached next to and a little below the tibia shinbone.

It bears very little body weight. The fibula provides lateral stability for the lower leg and acts as a tie rod to increase the range of motion for the ankle, especially lateral and medial rotation of the foot.

It is the thinnest of all the long bones compared to its length. The word fibula is Latin for "the brooch" and many believe it is named that way because when paired with the tibia anatomically, it forms the safety pin look of an ancient brooch.

Stress fractures of the fibula can occur with repetitive stress impact exercises like running. The pain of stress fractures in the fibula is similar to other common running injuries, making it difficult to correctly diagnose. Since it does not bear significant weight, the fibula is often used as a donation site for bone grafts to repair bony structures in other parts of the body. Grafts can be removed from the fibula and replaced with implants to maintain the stability of the shaft.

There are four types of bone in the human body: long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. The fibula is a long bone, meaning that it is longer than it is wide. Long bones have trabecular spongy bone on the ends and compact dense bone along the shaft. Running the length of the shaft in the center of the fibula is a cavity filled with red bone marrow. There is also red bone marrow in the trabecular bone at both ends.

Separating the trabecular and compact bone is an epiphyseal plate growth plate. The epiphyseal plate is the location where new bone is formed until the bone is fully matured at adulthood. The average fibula is about millimeters mm long in adult men and about mm long in adult women.

There are three distinct types of fibula shapes when viewed as a cross-section along the shaft: triangular, quadrilateral, and irregular. Each fibula can contain more than one type of cross-section shape, and the combinations differ between males and females. The fibula is the most slender long bone in the body as a ratio of width to length. The fibula is located on the lateral outside of the tibia, slightly posterior to the back and offsets a little below.

The proximal top end of the fibula is articulated with the lateral condyle of the tibia, just below the knee. That is called the proximal tibiofibular joint.

The fibula does not make up any part of the knee joint. The distal bottom end of the fibula articulates with the tibia in a depression called the fibular notch and that is called the distal tibiofibular joint. Even more distally, the fibula articulates with the talus at the talofibular joint, which forms part of the ankle joint called the lateral malleolus and can be felt externally as the hard bump on the outside of the ankle.

The entire collection of the tibia, fibula, talus, and associated ligaments is known as the tibiofibular syndesmosis. The fibula is connected to the tibia through a web of connective tissue that runs nearly the entire length of the fibular shaft. The proximal tibiofibular joint is held in place with the lateral fibular collateral ligament. The fibula provides lateral stability to the lower limb and to the ankle joint.

It also articulates with the tibia and the talus to allow for additional range of motion during rotation of the ankle. A natural fibula in an otherwise healthy individual does not bear any significant body weight.

There are several muscles of the leg, including some from the upper leg, that attach along the entire length of the fibula to include both ends and the shaft.