Signs of a Tibia Fracture
Tibia fractures range from small cracks after a sports injury to breaks that need surgery.
Pain and swelling in the lower leg
Pain along the shin after a fall, collision or twisting injury, often with trouble bearing weight.
Pain and swelling at the knee
A swollen, painful knee after a fall or impact can be a tibial plateau fracture rather than a ligament tear.
A leg that looks out of shape
Visible deformity or a leg that won't bear any weight needs an X-ray the same day.
Pain that keeps increasing
Pain that is getting worse rather than better after a leg fracture should be checked the same day.
Tibial Shaft and Tibial Plateau Fractures
Where the tibia is broken decides how it is treated.
Some well-aligned shaft fractures are treated in a cast or functional brace.
Most displaced shaft fractures are fixed with an intramedullary nail, a rod placed inside the bone.
Breaks of the joint surface are planned with a CT scan and may be fixed with plates and screws.
The meniscus and ligaments can be injured too, and are assessed as part of the plan.
Meniscus tears →FibulaFibula FracturesThe thinner outer bone of the leg often breaks with the tibia or with an ankle injury.
Ankle fractures →ChildrenChildren's Tibia FracturesShinbone fractures in children, including toddlers, are often treated in a cast.
Children's fractures →A Plan Built Around Alignment and the Knee
The goals are a straight, stable leg and, for plateau fractures, a knee joint that moves well.
Accurate Diagnosis
X-rays of the whole tibia, with CT for plateau fractures and fractures near the ankle.
Nonoperative Care When Stable
A cast or brace for well-aligned fractures, with close X-ray follow-up.
Surgery When Indicated
Intramedullary nailing for displaced shaft fractures; plates and screws for displaced plateau fractures, with arthroscopic assistance in selected cases.
A Defined Recovery Plan
Knee motion, weight-bearing and therapy milestones written down at each visit.
What to Expect at Your Evaluation
Your first visit is focused on understanding the injury and outlining clear options.
How the leg was injured, and a check of the skin, swelling, circulation and nerves.
X-rays are reviewed with you, and CT is added for fractures into the knee or ankle joint.
Cast, brace or surgery, explained in plain language with time for your questions.
When to Have a Leg Injury Checked
- You can't bear weight on the leg
- A swollen, painful knee after a fall or impact
- Tenderness along the shinbone
- A leg that looks out of shape
- Pain that is getting worse instead of better
From Conservative Care to Surgical Options
Treatment depends on the fracture, your age and activity, and your overall health.
Nonoperative Treatment
- Long-leg cast or functional brace for stable shaft fractures
- Hinged knee brace for some plateau fractures
- Protected weight-bearing with crutches
- Physical therapy for knee motion and strength
Surgical Treatment
- Intramedullary nailing of tibial shaft fractures
- Plate and screw fixation of tibial plateau fractures
- Arthroscopic-assisted tibial plateau fixation in selected cases
- Treatment of associated meniscus and ligament injuries when needed
This page is educational and does not replace an individual evaluation. Weight-bearing and recovery depend on the fracture and the treatment, and are reviewed at each visit.
Read More Before Your Visit
In-depth guides written to help you understand your diagnosis and recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Some stable, well-aligned shaft fractures heal in a cast or brace. Displaced shaft fractures are usually treated with an intramedullary nail, and plateau fractures that shift the knee joint surface are usually fixed with plates and screws.
It is a break at the top of the tibia, where it forms the lower half of the knee joint. Because it involves the joint surface, the plan focuses on restoring a smooth, stable knee.
It is a metal rod placed inside the hollow center of the tibia and held with screws. It holds the bone in alignment while it heals.
It depends on the fracture and the treatment. Weight-bearing is often limited at first and then increased as X-rays show healing. Your plan is reviewed at each visit.
A fracture that involves the joint surface can raise the risk of later knee arthritis, which is why restoring the joint surface and regaining motion are priorities of treatment.
Call (484) 526-1735 during office hours and say it is a new fracture. Same-day appointments are available for new fractures. Please ask for Dr. Hendel by name, because the same number schedules several St. Luke's orthopedic physicians. You can also schedule online through St. Luke's.
Referral requirements vary by insurance plan. Many plans allow direct access to orthopedic specialists, while others require a referral from your primary care physician. Office staff can verify your plan's requirements when you call to schedule.
Questions About a Tibia Fracture?
Visits are at 153 Brodhead Road, Rear Entrance, Bethlehem, PA 18017, for patients from Bethlehem, Allentown, and across the Lehigh Valley. New fracture? Same-day appointments. Call (484) 526-1735.
Call (484) 526-1735Schedule Online at St. Luke’s