What Are the Types of Tibia Fractures?
To determine which treatment option will work for tibia fractures, doctors usually classify them into the following groups:
- Stable fracture: in this type of tibia fracture, the broken ends of the tibia line up appropriately and stay in place during the healing process.
- Transverse fracture: This fracture is horizontal, and the bone may become unstable if the fibula also gets fractured.
- Displaced fracture: The tibia is moved out of its natural location when it breaks. The broken ends of the bone are separated and they don’t align. This type of fracture is usually severe and people who experience it may need surgery for full recovery.
- Oblique fracture: The fracture occurs at an angle and is fairly stable. It may become more displaced over time, especially if the fibula is also fractured.
- Comminuted fracture: The tibia breaks into three or more separate pieces. This is the most unstable and severe type of tibia fracture.
- Spiral fracture: This is usually caused by a twisting force, which causes a spiraling line to appear on the bone and may get unstable over time.
Tibia fractures can also be open or closed. In closed fractures, the bone does not break through the skin. So, internal soft tissues like blood vessels and tendons may be affected by this type of break.
In open fractures, the broken bone breaks through the skin. This commonly occurs during bad falls and vehicle accidents. Tendons, muscles, ligaments, and other soft tissues close to the site of fracture are at risk of injury. This type of fracture also exposes you to germs, increasing the risk of infection.