Pathologies
Lower leg fracture
- Tibia fracture
- Fibula fracture
- Maisonneuve fracture
Tibia fracture
Cause
Tibia fractures are common, especially among skiers, and can occur in combination with fractures of the adjoining fibula. It occurs following either twisting or direct impact during high-energy trauma.
Treatment
With minor fractures, applying a cast will hold the bone in its anatomical position and allow it to heal. If the fracture is too serious to heal naturally, the bone pieces can also be secured with a nail or plate and screws. Open or minimally invasive surgery may be done in such cases.
Fibula fracture
Cause
As the other component of the lower leg together with the tibia, the fibula can be subject to a simple or more complex fracture. Like the tibia, a fibula fracture occurs following a twisting motion or direct impact during high-energy trauma.
Treatment
If the trauma has resulted in a minor fracture, the bone can heal itself by the patient wearing a cast or splint. With open or comminuted (multifragmentary) fractures, or when these occur in combination with a tibia fracture, torn ankle ligaments or medial malleolus fractures(Maisonneuve fracture), surgery is required in most cases, to secure all the damaged bone ends together with plates and screws. The injury site is then immobilized with a cast to ensure healing.
Maisonneuve fracture
Cause
This fracture, which was first described by Jules Germain Maisonneuve, is the result of two injuries, starting with damage to the ankle ligaments or medial malleolus, followed by a spiral fracture of the proximal third of the fibula. Maisonneuve fractures are most common in skiers and footballers, occurring when the foot is planted to the ground while the ankle is forcefully twisted outwards.
Treatment
This injury always requires surgical treatment to stabilize the broken bones and repair the torn ligaments. This fracture can impact other portions of the leg or ankle. Whether the fracture is simple or complex, computer-assisted surgery is essential in this context. Rehabilitation is also crucial to allow patients to regain the flexibility and strength in the damaged areas.
