The tibia is two long tubular bones of different thicknesses. The tibia is located medially, and the fibula is laterally. The tibia is attached to the femur with the help of the knee joint.
Most often, a fracture of the leg bones is accompanied by damage to the fibula and tibia. Less commonly, the leg bone breaks in isolated areas.
Shin bone fracture
Often the cause of a fracture of the shin bone is a direct injury 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 exposure.
When the tibia of the lower leg breaks, the debris does not fly apart over a long distance. The fibula tightly holds them near the damaged area.
A fracture of the tibia of the lower leg is accompanied by displacement at an angle. However, it is highly likely that the fragments of the injured bone will shift in width. In such cases, their final location may be different.
The lower leg bone is also subject to a double fracture: most often this occurs with indirect injury.
Symptoms of the disease
Recognizing the symptoms of a fracture of a hip bone, lower leg, etc. is very simple. The main characteristic of the injury is severe pain in the fracture area. After some time, edema appears on the damaged area of the leg, and the skin color changes. It is better to contact a traumatologist in the shortest possible time, since a fracture can be accompanied by an open wound or crepitus.
A patient with a broken leg bone cannot stand up on his own. Each movement of the injured limb is accompanied by bursts of pain. A damaged leg visually appears shorter.
With a fracture of the leg bone, the peroneal nerve is often injured. In this case, the foot hangs, even the smallest movement seems impossible. The injured area becomes immune to external stimuli.
Also, with a bone fracture, vessels may be affected. A sign of vessel injury is a pale skin that gives off in blue.
In cases where both bones of the leg were broken, the patient feels severe pain in the injured area. The tibia is deformed, the skin acquires a blue tint. In a short period, the leg swells and loses mobility.
Diagnostics
But what if the leg bone hurts? Firstly, you need to contact a trauma center as soon as possible . The specialist will provide first aid.
Sometimes it is possible to diagnose a fracture of the tibia or tibia without additional procedures: an X-ray examination, etc.
However, most often, doctors resort to using additional equipment to determine a fracture of the fibula. X-ray images are taken in two projections: direct and lateral.
Experts note that it is with the help of an X-ray apparatus that you can determine the exact displacement of the bone and the location of the fragments, as well as identify the most appropriate type of treatment.
Treatment
Treatment of a shin bone fracture is the simplest and easiest form of recovery. In most cases, gypsum is applied to the injured limb, which can be removed after 15-20 days. Doctors note that incomplete recovery after a fracture of the fibula is very rare.
If the tibia or both bones of the lower leg were broken, then the treatment will be more complicated, and the recovery process will be long. With such fractures, patients are divided into several groups, according to the severity of the injury, and for each of them an individual type of treatment is prescribed.
Sometimes, when a leg bone fractures, its fragments are displaced in such a way that the application of a plaster cast does not help. In such cases, skeletal traction is necessary. With this procedure, surgical intervention can be prevented. However, this treatment method has several significant disadvantages: the bones grow together longer, the patient is prescribed strict bed rest.
Shin bruise
Shin bruise is another type of bone injury. The main sign of the disease is a lump on the leg bones.
A bruise is an injury that is accompanied by damage to the soft tissues, a violation of the skin and its structure. The first symptom of a shin injury is redness of the skin in the area of damage. Often after a bruise, a small seal forms on the skin, which does not cause severe pain reactions. However, doctors advise you to contact specialists even in these cases.
Shortly after the injury, bloating occurs at the site of the bruise, accompanied by subcutaneous hemorrhage. A hematoma forms around this site, around which the skin swells.
How to treat a bump on the lower legs?
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 must remain at rest, a cooling compress must be applied to the site of the injury. Cold helps 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.
Usually, any disease can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. However, bruises and fractures of the lower leg are injuries that occur by chance. You can only try to avoid steep descents, falls, etc.